After years of setbacks, the Vickers-Carrick bridge looks set to move forward – but some leaders still question if it’s a top infrastructure priority.
1 / 4 The Vickers-Carrick bridge would carry pedestrian and cycling traffic across the Neebing-McIntyre floodway, just west of May Street and a nearby railway bridge. (Google Maps)
THUNDER BAY — A crucial piece of a planned cycling route connecting Thunder Bay’s north and south ends could be in place as soon as 2024, after years of setbacks.
The Vickers-Carrick bridge, long identified as a top priority in the city’s active transportation plans, will be designed this year thanks to a $170,000 commitment in the recently-approved city budget.
The budget also forecasts $2.5 million in spending next year to build the bridge, which would carry pedestrian and cycling traffic across the Neebing-McIntyre floodway just a few hundred metres west of May Street.
Cycling advocate Ken Shields said it’s a welcome move that helps answer decades of calls to build a safe, direct north-south bike route.
That route would enable efficient bike trips across the city and open up the intercity area to cyclists of all ages and abilities, he said.“It’s important to the city. The area there is pretty much only accessible by motor vehicles safely. You’ll find cyclists bravely on the street, but not with their children.”“We need to get [cycling routes] closer and closer to the intercity area, so folks can go to work, go to restaurants, shopping, the cinema, the farmer’s market.”Shields emphasizes there […]
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