Chris Bradshaw, loyal PT reader in Ottawa, writes:
Ottawa is very slowly, very tentatively talking about adding a second passerelle. The first one is a wonder (the Corktown Footbridge), but it only came in with huge opposition.
It makes me laugh so much – they can add a new road bridge for 50 million with their eyes closed, but a passerelle for $12 Million? That is an outrage. A waste of our taxes. Damn walkers.In any event, all those who opposed it look pretty foolish now, as it is very heavily utilised, has won architecture awards and really did not cost that much. I even take visitors there as it gives one of the definitive views of Ottawa (the canal, framed by Parliament and the Chateau Laurier).
I had an argument with someone at work about this today. He brought up the textbook arguments: “it’s too expensive, it’s useless, it’s an eyesore…”. The eight-lane, dirty concrete 417 highway bridge down the canal doesn’t seem to bother anybody. I don’t understand why there is always such strong opposition whenever a pedestrian bridge appears in conversation.
The Corktown Footbridge is a clear success and the city of Ottawa should be investing more in those kind of infrastructures.
Here is a comparison of what it looked like before:
http://www.pastottawa.com/comparison/corktown-footbridge/525/