Transport Canada has granted approval for a pedestrian bridge that will connect a new housing subdivision to Victoria Street in Downtown Squamish over the Mamquam Blind Channel.
The project required approval by the Navigation Protection Program of Transport Canada. It was granted approval for the lift bridge crossing on April 21.
The project is now back before council on June 9 for comment.
The Sea and Sky pedestrian bridge will be located in the ‘Marine Village’ area of the Waterfront Landing site, where Bosa is proposing a marina on the south side and kayak storage on the north side of the pedestrian bridge.
The bridge lands on the Victoria Street, adjacent to the Sirocco development.
The bridge is expected to be constructed in 2021 or by 2022.
The pedestrian bridge is a key community amenity provided by Bosa, which is developing the Waterfront Landing project, the townhome development located on the south east side of the blind channel.
The bridge will be owned, operated and maintained by the district.
When in the lift position, the 14.5-metre-wide lift span will provide unimpeded access on the MBC. According to a council report, clearance under the bridge will vary from 13.5 feet to 30.3 feet, depending on tide level.
This height will allow many power boats to pass underneath without lifting the bridge, the report says.
All opening will be managed by district staff and a CCTV system will be established to track opening and transit data, which will provide upstream and downstream views of the channel and pedestrian gates.
The operating time will be 7 am to 10 pm during summer months and 8 am to 5:30 pm in the winter. The bridge will still open outside these hours, but the response time will be longer.
Gauges will be installed so mariners can determine whether a bridge lift is required.
The pedestrian bridge connects to local parks and trails, and provide more foot traffic to businesses in downtown and waterfront landing, the district says.
“The pedestrian bridge will support walking and bicycle use, reducing GHG emissions by encouraging a shift away from single occupant vehicles.”
Larry Murray says
One must consider the extraordinary space in which this new bridge will exist. The design must celebrate what it means to be under the Chief and Slhanay and down from the unique Adventure Centre and the soon to be most creative architecture of the Oceanfront. Should such a bridge not be so special that it is an attraction itself? Should the design not inspire and amaze? An opportunity to create a vibrant and significant cultural and artistic piece? We really do not need an ‘out of the box’ design but to seek something so special that it ‘speaks for itself’ rather than in years ahead, no one speaks about it except to say it is simply, another bridge.