One of three choices for the new Johnson Street Bridge

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The City unveils the new choices for the Johnson Street Bridge

Victoria residents will have their chance to chime in on what the future of our Inner Harbour will look like this week with the unveiling of the three choices for the new Johnson Street Bridge. But the public will have no say in the ultimate bridge question: Should it be rehabilitated or rebuilt? And the word is still out on when (or if) the proposed federal and provincial funding will come through. But Victoria mayor Dean Fortin remains confident that city council is pursuing the right project at the right time.

“People say we could be spending the money on so many other things, but it’s not really an either/or situation,” says Fortin. “We have to do something about this bridge; wishful thinking is not going to make the [need for] seismic upgrading go away. It has to be done and, frankly, it’s an opportune time right now—we need this stimulus package and we need the jobs.”

Fortin notes that currently low construction costs and interest rates are both significant factors in pushing ahead with the proposed $63 million project. “It’s a good time to be moving forward on an infrastructure project, but it doesn’t mean we’re ignoring other major issues that are really important to us—like affordable housing and homelessness.”

Key aspects of the new bridge design include maintaining the three vehicle lanes and rail line but adding two bike lanes, a public sidewalk and a multi-use pathway, as well as improving vehicle approach and integrating the landscape and bridge itself into the overall vision of the harbour. With a decision needed by September 24, the city is going on a public-relations blitz over the next two weeks, showing the various options to community groups, holding a series of open houses at City Hall, talking directly to bridge users, distributing handbills city-wide and keeping the whole discussion in the public eye via johnsonstreetbridge.com, a website dedicated to the project. And if that all seems like a lot to squeeze into two weeks, you’re right—but the tight turnaround all hinges on federal and provincial capital commitments of $21 million each.

Bruce Carter, CEO of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, says they stand behind the bridge project—for now. “We totally support the City’s bid to get federal and provincial funding partners to rebuild the bridge,” says Carter. “But if we don’t get those, the landscape changes and all of the base assumptions change: the timeframe, the amount of money . . . without those two-thirds partners, would that money be better spent on other infrastructure deficits? On doing something else with the bridge? What are the options? If we get the federal and provincial money, and we can build a new bridge for the approximate cost of repairs—or even less—then hey, I’m a business guy, those numbers make absolute sense to me. But when you don’t have the partners, the numbers run differently.”

One outspoken critic of the project is former Monday editor (and current “Unknown City” columnist) Ross Crockford, one of the directors of johnsonstreetbridge.org, a Blue Bridge preservationist group. “I’m really curious to see how the public reacts to these designs, because they’re all pretty unusual, all very different for Victoria,” he notes. “The risk is, however, that you may get a public backlash; people might say, ‘I hate all of them!’”

But design is only one of the concerns shared by Crockford and a growing number of Blue Bridge proponents. “We keep hearing we’re supposed to get a new bridge because it’ll provide all these extra amenities—landscaping, bicycle access—but you could do that with the existing bridge. They just aren’t willing to spend any money on it,” he says. “These designs are interesting, but all of this is completely academic until we know who’s paying for it.”

Fortin, however, remains confident the infrastructure money will come through. “We were excited to see highlighted in the provincial budget the amount of investment funds still going out to municipalities. And we were encouraged by the list of what they’re funding—roads, bridges, sewers—and we recognize that this is exactly what stimulus funds are for. It’s going to create 800 jobs at a time when unemployment is at its worst in Victoria. This couldn’t happen at a better time.”

And while Fortin is keen to hear the public’s feedback, he admits it ultimately comes down to city council. “Fundamentally, you make the best judgements on the information you have—[and] you make the decision. Ultimately, that’s what we’re elected for, to make decisions. You have to have a long-term view.” M

Check out this week’s City Hall open houses: 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept.12, and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.15.