Second river crossing to be studied
The 2023 capital budget adopted by city council at its meeting Monday includes $100,000 to explore options for a second Yukon River crossing in Whitehorse.
The 2023 capital budget adopted by city council at its meeting Monday includes $100,000 to explore options for a second Yukon River crossing in Whitehorse.
Tracy Allen, the city’s director of operations and infrastructure, told council the money will be used to look at four or five options.
The list of options does include adding onto the existing Robert Campbell Bridge.
Allen said the feasibility study will inform future design work and construction plans.
Coun. Ted Laking told council the Riverdale bridge is at capacity, and the community is interested in the possibility of a second crossing.
The capital budget also includes $150,000 to examine transportation corridor improvements.
In response to another question from Laking, Allen said they will be looking at whether another lane could be added to Quartz Road and Mountainview Drive within the existing footprint.
Comments (22)
Up 1 Down 0
Charlie's Aunt on Dec 22, 2022 at 5:14 pm
Riverdale sub division hasn't expanded in recent years, what has changed is the addition and expansion of all the schools. May be it's time as N of 60 says, to remove the pedestrian and bike lane from the bridge and either hang it below or build a new pedestrian bridge. Have a small short term parking area on town side and link bridge to a trail leading behind the schools. No need for parents to clog traffic by dropping off & picking up students, they can drop them off to walk across new pedestrian bridge.
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Unicorn Farts on Dec 22, 2022 at 12:32 pm
Forget bridges and those dam, dams! Scrap electric - Absolutely toxic - Besides it’s inconvenient to the fish who used to have freedom to swim where they please. Wow eh - Even the wildlife are having their freedoms taken away by this government and their so-called green technologies. If they aren’t targeting fish they are targeting birds with their slice and dice windmill tech.
Although, perhaps we can have windmill farms and pemmican factories to assist with food security in the green revolution? Yes, people die in revolutions… Get over it! Now that we have expanded the criterion for MAID you can self select.
We want hydrogen powered hovercraft vehicles and unicorns, lots of unicorns!
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JAMES B. on Dec 21, 2022 at 9:30 pm
Should look at construction of a foot and wheelchair bridge across the river from downtown to the hospital. It would reduce traffic over only bridge and give easy access to hospital and services etc downtown.
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Groucho d'North on Dec 21, 2022 at 3:53 pm
A second bridge is no small investment, but will it be foremost to service the status quo subdivision of Riverdale, or will there be new land development proposals to support a growing increase in traffic?
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Hobo on Dec 21, 2022 at 3:34 pm
@bonanzajoe: we have 3 of those and it don't help
Up 9 Down 3
Mark on Dec 21, 2022 at 8:18 am
Better late than never I guess. To City Admin….. simply ask both Territorial and Federal governments for money for infrastructure. Liberal government has a money printing money that they seem to love to use.
Put a nice long bridge across the river from the south access roundabout, right across and connect to Nisutlin. Yes it will cost millions but even the city has no issue overspending on castles for themselves so maybe it’s the residents turn? Putting a bridge there will form a perfect split for all residents of Riverdale and would reduce all congestion. Next, or even during this, four lane Mountain view. It is possible to do and once again bite the bullet and just do it. After what the city just spent on itself, It’s time they thought of the residents a little more.
Up 13 Down 3
Max Mack on Dec 20, 2022 at 4:11 pm
Riverdale residents have been asking for either a 2nd access or a widened bridge for decades to no avail.
But now that the elites are going to get a crack at some nice waterfront and view lots at Long Lake, the city wants to plan for a new bridge. Typical.
Up 9 Down 1
Nathan Living on Dec 20, 2022 at 3:13 pm
I do like a few options, maybe a bridge from Whistlebend across the river with another near Boston Pizza to tie into second ave.
Maybe it's time to add a lane to the Robert Service Bridge and consider a few one way streets since there are times when downtown traffic gets backed up.
Up 11 Down 7
TheHammer on Dec 20, 2022 at 10:45 am
The whole city is at capacity. Add to it Kwanlin Dun residential lot plans verging on the main hi way. This doesn't fit at all with climate control plans. Development is like a lemming cliff destination.
Up 17 Down 0
DA on Dec 20, 2022 at 8:23 am
Riverdale Res,
I don't see your logic behind moving the airport. Where do you suggest moving the airport to? Do you recognize the massive cost that would be associated with moving the airport?
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North_of_60 on Dec 19, 2022 at 2:27 pm
@Riverdale Res is correct, the bridge is only 'at capacity' during the weekday morning and afternoon rush hours. The next time the bridge deck is refurbished, move the pedestrian-bikeways off the bridge deck and hang them below or off the sides. Then make the bridge three lanes with two one way and one the other, controlled by lights to switch the lanes between morning and afternoon. That's a far more cost effective solution than another bridge.
Up 16 Down 2
stephen kushniruk on Dec 19, 2022 at 8:27 am
Did they not do a study some time ago?
I agree with Wilf. This cost should also include a cost benefit analysis.
There are a lot of models that should be evaluated, not just one senior people in the government or developers/real estate people want.
1) Do nothing and what is the benefits or negative issue with this?
2) Upgrade the existing bridge and the cost to do so then benefits or negative issue with this?
3) Other crossing and the cost to do this then benefits or negative issue with this?
4) Open up more land on this side of the river for development and the benefits or negative issue with this?
5) Etc.
Ask the public which option they want to see.
Let's be aware developers and real estate will want another bridge to open up development on the other side of the river. Need to watch who influences this study and if its impartial.
Up 15 Down 9
Josey Wales on Dec 19, 2022 at 4:58 am
Given the direction our community has been engineered to, this is my forecast for said project.
Another decades of bloviating on said topic, in the end?
A bridge much like the one we currently have, except 100% CCP steel.
Said project most likely lay right beside current bridge with all new bridge lanes merging into existing traffic lanes.
By then, there will be a ESL University built near the new FN healing facility, which will be adjacent to that old French school built way back in the twenties.
Oh wait, there will be no vehicles by then as we will all be sharing bicycles made in China. Living peacefully in a zero carbon new age hippy utopia and waiting in the walk through for processed crickets and almond extract.
Considering the logic required to decide whether a bridge is required...
The logic required to select a...logical spot...
Build a logical design...
And get it done without runaway logistics resulting in runaway costs hanging with its cuz...runaway NEW taxes?
Any hope of seeing this troubled bridge over water, whilst they “strive for perfection” 🤣?
Nah...I suggest.
Up 17 Down 9
Riverdale Res on Dec 18, 2022 at 5:12 pm
“Coun. Ted Laking told council the Riverdale bridge is at capacity…..”
“Is at capacity”.
And where did Ted come up with that? What were the metrics?
That’s an absolute statement with zero to back it up, just Ted being Ted.
The Robert Campbell bridge is NOT at capacity.
It’s busy for two brief periods each day, that’s when all the parents are either dropping their kids off at one of 6 schools in Riverdale or picking them up. When school isn’t in session, there’s no issue at all.
Building a second bridge right now is a colossal waste of money. Manage the traffic during two 30 minute periods.
Now if, as some have suggested, we move the airport and/or build new subdivisions North of Long lake, that’s a different scenario and would justify a second bridge.
Up 23 Down 3
Olav on Dec 18, 2022 at 9:29 am
Excellent planning. Build it near the Mountain View golf course.
Direct access to gravel sources on the east side of the river to fill in the spots that are sinking in Whistle Bend.
Up 19 Down 4
Max Mack on Dec 17, 2022 at 9:44 pm
"Monorail!!!" . . . Simpsons will get it . . .
Up 13 Down 8
Whitehorse on Dec 17, 2022 at 3:29 pm
I don’t know if it’s possible, but a bridge where 2nd turns after Boston pizza would probably be ideal.
Give the traffic coming from PC/Copper Ridge/WhistleBend a direct route before really entering downtown.
Up 12 Down 22
Wilf Carter on Dec 17, 2022 at 9:07 am
Get cost benefit analysis done not just cost. How does it fit into the benefit of Riverdale residents! How does this fit into over needs of City future? Fix the existing bridge first and make it 4 lanes. Develop this side of the river first before going to the other side.
Up 31 Down 7
Jack on Dec 17, 2022 at 12:38 am
Whistle Bend area crossing along river east shore then 2nd crossing back into town. So obvious....gonna be needed very soon and the city has to be prepared to buck up and pay for proper infrastructure.
Up 10 Down 10
bonanzajoe on Dec 16, 2022 at 4:29 pm
How about a subway. LOL
Up 46 Down 30
Josey Wales on Dec 16, 2022 at 3:58 pm
Why not go under it Vs over?
Or better yet, we could get all old timey and have a ferry with a hemp rope strung across. To save on carbon and horse farts pollution, have manual dexterity be the fuel.
Could have a daily spin on the colour wheel and see which pigment rides free that day?
CoW enjoy your study, I am certain it all ready has a predetermined outcome.
Up 32 Down 28
YUKONER on Dec 16, 2022 at 2:05 pm
They should put a new bridge going from the campground to the back side of Alsek.