kelnoz
New Member
According to previous presentations, trains would either share lanes with cars or replace them entirely,
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Alexandra Bridge Replacement
- Thread starter J.OT13
- Start date
CapitalSeven
Senior Member
I believe the idea is that the two traffic lanes could be for cars, buses, or trams. There's no reason they couldn't accommodate car as well as trams: a queue jump lane at either end, signals, and street-car style tracks, and you're in business.
I think Echo will prove the most popular, since its basic shape will remind folks of the old bridge, and it is a little more unique than the arch concepts.
casscadia
New Member
I definitely prefer Echo. The silhouette of the Alexandra bridge, and it's reimagining seem so much more interesting and unique than the other two. I feel like I've seen lots of suspension bridges that look just like Motion or Rendez Vous.
A nicely formatted summary from u/Rocketphish on SSP Ottawa:
NCC reveals 3 options to replace Alexandra Bridge
Officials reject restoration of existing bridge, calling it a 'health and safety' issue
Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Oct 01, 2024 3:16 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago
The National Capital Commission (NCC) has unveiled three potential designs to replace the Alexandra Bridge, as officials say there's no going back on the planned demolition of the existing 123-year-old structure.
The concept designs — entitled Echo, Rendez vous and Motion — now go to public consultation, with an online survey launching Tuesday and open meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is soon starting the procurement process to select a company to design and construct the new bridge, with a winning design expected early next year. Construction is expected to run from 2028 to 2032.
Each of the concept designs provides separate lanes for bicycles and vehicles, plus a pedestrian walkway with views of Parliament Hill.
Introducing the designs, architect Martin Knight said Echo is intended as a "reinterpretation" of the existing bridge, though not a replica.
"The Echo bridge concept draws inspiration from the historic Alexandra Bridge, combining heritage with modern design," he said.
Rendez vous is defined by two "grand arches meeting at a single pier in the river." Knight said the bridge appears to "step lightly" on the water, and amplifies views to provide a feeling of openness.
"The transparent arches enhance visual connection between previously separated areas on either side of the river," he said.
Finally, the design known as Motion is inspired by the flow of the Ottawa River and the rippling form of one of its native species.
"The motion design is a tribute to the dynamic, ever-changing motion of the river, inspired by the eel," he said. "The bridge's graceful form reflects the eel's motion."
Knight explained that each design has a gathering place, and the vehicular lanes can be closed to create even larger public spaces for special occasions.
Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette watched the design presentation and said her community has a strong attachment to the bridge. She said consultations will be essential and asked why the bridge must be replaced.
"I don't think it's something we should take for granted during the public consultation," she said in French.
But Stefan Dery, PSPC's director general of infrastructure asset management, said the government has ruled out saving the existing bridge.
"Fundamentally from our perspective, this is a health and safety issue," he later told reporters. "The state of the existing bridge is such that it has a finite life, it has reached the end of service, so we're not in a position to simply repair the bridge."
According to a PSPC report, the existing Alexandra Bridge is suffering from 17 different issues affecting its strength and integrity, including rust, cracks and buckling.
But critics have questioned those conclusions and pushed to save the bridge. The Alexandra Bridge Coalition has argued that converting it to a "green bridge" closed to motor vehicles could lengthen its life.
Josiah Frith, who handles the Alexandra Bridge file for the Lowertown Community Association also still believes the bridge can be saved. He said it would cost substantially less than building new.
"We love this bridge," he said. "We would like to see it preserved and restored, and we have always been asking for a fourth option to be put forth which is that restoration."
He sees the Echo concept as the only design that captures some elements of the historic structure.
Built by the Dominion Bridge Company of Lachine, Que and opened in 1901, the Alexandra Bridge is considered an engineering asset of national historic importance, according to PSPC.
The first open meeting, at Gatineau's Canadian Museum of History, is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The second, at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, is slated for Thursday, Oct. 3, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...idge-1.7339080
NCC reveals 3 options to replace Alexandra Bridge
Officials reject restoration of existing bridge, calling it a 'health and safety' issue
Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Oct 01, 2024 3:16 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago
The National Capital Commission (NCC) has unveiled three potential designs to replace the Alexandra Bridge, as officials say there's no going back on the planned demolition of the existing 123-year-old structure.
The concept designs — entitled Echo, Rendez vous and Motion — now go to public consultation, with an online survey launching Tuesday and open meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is soon starting the procurement process to select a company to design and construct the new bridge, with a winning design expected early next year. Construction is expected to run from 2028 to 2032.
Each of the concept designs provides separate lanes for bicycles and vehicles, plus a pedestrian walkway with views of Parliament Hill.
Introducing the designs, architect Martin Knight said Echo is intended as a "reinterpretation" of the existing bridge, though not a replica.
"The Echo bridge concept draws inspiration from the historic Alexandra Bridge, combining heritage with modern design," he said.
Rendez vous is defined by two "grand arches meeting at a single pier in the river." Knight said the bridge appears to "step lightly" on the water, and amplifies views to provide a feeling of openness.
"The transparent arches enhance visual connection between previously separated areas on either side of the river," he said.
Finally, the design known as Motion is inspired by the flow of the Ottawa River and the rippling form of one of its native species.
"The motion design is a tribute to the dynamic, ever-changing motion of the river, inspired by the eel," he said. "The bridge's graceful form reflects the eel's motion."
Knight explained that each design has a gathering place, and the vehicular lanes can be closed to create even larger public spaces for special occasions.
Gatineau Mayor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette watched the design presentation and said her community has a strong attachment to the bridge. She said consultations will be essential and asked why the bridge must be replaced.
"I don't think it's something we should take for granted during the public consultation," she said in French.
But Stefan Dery, PSPC's director general of infrastructure asset management, said the government has ruled out saving the existing bridge.
"Fundamentally from our perspective, this is a health and safety issue," he later told reporters. "The state of the existing bridge is such that it has a finite life, it has reached the end of service, so we're not in a position to simply repair the bridge."
According to a PSPC report, the existing Alexandra Bridge is suffering from 17 different issues affecting its strength and integrity, including rust, cracks and buckling.
But critics have questioned those conclusions and pushed to save the bridge. The Alexandra Bridge Coalition has argued that converting it to a "green bridge" closed to motor vehicles could lengthen its life.
Josiah Frith, who handles the Alexandra Bridge file for the Lowertown Community Association also still believes the bridge can be saved. He said it would cost substantially less than building new.
"We love this bridge," he said. "We would like to see it preserved and restored, and we have always been asking for a fourth option to be put forth which is that restoration."
He sees the Echo concept as the only design that captures some elements of the historic structure.
Built by the Dominion Bridge Company of Lachine, Que and opened in 1901, the Alexandra Bridge is considered an engineering asset of national historic importance, according to PSPC.
The first open meeting, at Gatineau's Canadian Museum of History, is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The second, at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, is slated for Thursday, Oct. 3, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...idge-1.7339080
goodcitywhenfinished
Active Member
Echo is the nicest from purely an on-bridge experience. The way the truss wraps the bike lane and separates car traffic from pedestrians is really nice.
Motion is the best looking as a sculptural piece but the on-bridge experience looks terrible.
Motion is the best looking as a sculptural piece but the on-bridge experience looks terrible.
Didn't really notice, but you're right. Echo nicely separates all modes of transportation, while Motion feels very close to cars. Rendez-Vous is somewhere in the middle, but more like Motion.
CapitalSeven
Senior Member
I went to the open house today. Echo seemed to be popular there too, although there was appreciation for Motion. A bridge engineer (not part of the design team or NCC staff) explained to me that the unusual design of Echo involves both truss and stressed ribbon elements. I didn't catch whether the latter is in the deck, the superstructure, or both. It would be interesting to know more about the engineering of all the proposals, but the NCC is much more concerned about whether they are inspired by an eel or a canoe 
mattp
New Member
The winning design is the one known as "Motion" when the three final designs were revealed in October.
It is inspired by the flow of the Ottawa River and the rippling form of one of its native species.
Disappointed. It was my least favourite, in part for its resemblance to the Vimy Bridge.
urbottawa
Active Member
Wasn't my first choice either, but I'm warming up to this design. Sure, it is similar to Vimy, but this bridge is far more elegant imo (if not value engineered to death). Vimy bridge has very minimal relevance for Ottawa as a city on the world stage, so I don't see an issue with having some overlap in appearance. I recall seeing somewhere that the white colour is just a placeholder, I'll be interested to see how that aspect develops.
I'm sad we won't get the epic MUP from the Echo concept - that would've been really cool to see
I'm sad we won't get the epic MUP from the Echo concept - that would've been really cool to see
Vimy seems to be a basic bridge with a few arches. There's no design from the road deck down. Motion's arches continue to the peers. I'm warming up to it as well. If we're demolishing the old bridge, maybe best to build something completely new in form and design.
EDITED - I said Echo's arches, but meant Motion's arches.
EDITED - I said Echo's arches, but meant Motion's arches.
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CapitalSeven
Senior Member
While Echo was my favorite - and I think it was the favorite among the public - Motion has some things going for it. I imagine it is less expensive. I went to the open house and watched the video renderings on a large screen. Motion looked fantastic from the perspective of boats on the river.
SweazyCavalry
Active Member
Well too bad I don't own a boat unlike the typical Ottawa-Gatineau resident
CapitalSeven
Senior Member
I suspect the two main criteria are cost and reconciliation/virtue signalling. Echo seems to contain more material. And it echoes a colonial-era engineering design rather than looking vaguely like the primitive river critter that is so important to the identity of the typical Ottawa-Gatineau resident 