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Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange – Cycling Features Detailed Design Consultation Discussion Guide • June 2007 www.gatewayprogram.bc.ca Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange Detailed Design Consultation • June 2007

INTRODUCTION

Overview of the Gateway Program The Need for a New Pitt River Bridge and Proposed Gateway Program road and bridge improvements complement Mary Hill Interchange regional road and transit improvements already planned or underway. The existing Pitt River swing bridges on Highway 7 (connecting Pitt These improvements will help create a comprehensive, effective Meadows to ) are heavily congested during peak travel transportation network that supports improved movement of people and periods. The volume of daily traffic over the bridges has nearly tripled goods. This network will, in turn, facilitate economic growth, increased from 27,000 to 78,000 between 1985 and 2003, and is expected to reach transportation choice and better connections to designated population 88,000 in 2007. With construction of TransLink’s Bridge, peak growth areas. hour traffic in the already strained single-lane direction of the Pitt River bridges’ counterflow system is expected to increase by 20% to 30%, The Gateway Program includes the Port Mann/Highway 1, South Fraser significantly adding to congestion and delays if a new Pitt River Bridge is Perimeter Road and North Fraser Perimeter Road (NFPR) projects. The Pitt not in service. River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange project is part of the NFPR. Construction of a new high-level bridge (with up to 16m clearance above The Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange project is comprised high tide) and a new interchange at the west end of the bridge, where of a new bridge to replace the two existing swing bridges and an the Lougheed Highway and Mary Hill Bypass meet, will improve travel interchange to replace the existing intersection at Lougheed Highway times and safety, and eliminate unexpected closures for all users, including and Mary Hill Bypass. The project is the first of the Gateway Program goods movers, transit and cyclists. The high-level clearance will allow projects to proceed. marine traffic to pass uninterrupted. Gateway Program Goals The new bridge and interchange will be completed by November 2009. Improving roads and bridges for people, goods and transit, Gateway Program benefits include: Goals for the Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange • Improve reliability of the Pitt River crossing for vehicle and marine traffic • Addressing congestion • Provide capacity to serve the needs of growing municipalities • Improving the movement of people and goods in and through the region • Improve safety along a key goods movement and commuting corridor • Improving access to key economic gateways • Enhance the shoreline and the aquatic and riparian environments. • Improving the regional road network Benefits of the Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange • Improving quality of life The new bridge and interchange will create lasting improvements that • Reducing congestion-related idling emissions provide multiple benefits to the movements of people, goods and transit. These benefits include: • Facilitating better connections Safety – The new bridge and interchange will increase safety as a result • Reducing travel times of higher design standards, the elimination of a major intersection and • Improving safety and reliability the counter-flow system, and the provision of a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist pathway. The new bridge also enhances safety and reliability for marine navigation.  What we heard and how we responded

PITT RIVER BRIDGE / MARY HILL INTERCHANGE PROJECT

Reliability – Replacement of the two existing swing bridges will help Pre-design Consultation: ensure a continuous free flow of traffic over the Pitt River. Also, this will What we heard and how we responded allow more reliable transit times, enhancing transit’s attractiveness as a The following highlights the key feedback we received during the transportation option. pre-design consultation and is followed by bullets that indicate how Improved Traffic Movement – The new bridge reduces congestion by we responded to this input. eliminating backups caused by the current counter-flow system and 1. Participants generally supported the construction of the Pitt River increasing the number of lanes. Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange. Environmental Certification –The bridge will have one pier in the river and • Please see the following design features on page 5, which two on the foreshore. The removal of the existing swing bridges eliminates incorporate public input. the 18 piers that support them, thus enhancing the aquatic and riparian environments and the aesthetic quality of the river and riverbank. Removal 2. Participants suggested that, in order to address potential congestion, of the existing structures allows for the rehabilitation of land underneath the Ministry should also upgrade intersections leading to the bridge, on and alongside the new bridge. both sides, at the same time as the new bridge is being constructed. Flexibility to Meet Changing Traffic Demand – The bridge will be • The intersection at Lougheed Highway and Mary Hill Bypass is being designed to accommodate different lane allocations. On opening day, the replaced with an interchange. new bridge will have three westbound lanes and four eastbound lanes. • The intersection at Kennedy Road is being upgraded. The bridge will be built to accommodate eight lanes in the future, four • Additional intersection upgrades, including access to the future in each direction, which can be dedicated for HOV as the rest of the Dominion Triangle development, are to be completed in partnership HOV network expands. in addition, the bridge has been designed to with Port Coquitlam. The Gateway Program team continues to work accommodate future Light Rail Transit. with the City to plan these improvements. 3. Some participants suggested that pedestrian and cyclist pathways Project Response to Pre-Design Consultation should be developed on both sides of the bridge rather than just the Pre-design Consultation – May-June 2005 north side. In addition, several participants asked that the pathway The Gateway Program conducted pre-design community consultation on accommodate horses. the Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange project from May 24 to June 30, 2005. The consultation’s features included: • A 3.5 meter wide, two-way, separated multi-use pedestrian and cycling pathway will be provided on the north side of the bridge. • Nine small group meetings with stakeholder groups • Four open houses in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, and • Access for walking horses across the bridge will be accommodated Maple Ridge on various days and times during the week to maximize on the pedestrian/cycling pathway on the north side of the bridge. the opportunity for residents to participate • A 2.0 meter wide shoulder will be provided at overpasses and • All consultation materials, including an on-line feedback form, underpasses and on the south side of the new bridge. were available on the Gateway Program website (www.gatewayprogram.bc.ca) Approximately 500 individuals participated in the consultation program.  Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange Detailed Design Consultation • June 2007

DESIGN FOR THE PITT RIVER BRIDGE AND MARY HILL INTERCHANGE

4. Cyclists said they did not want a spiral ramp at the west end of the Detailed Design Consultation (June 2007) bridge. The design for the bridge and interchange shows that the key input • The bridge design reduces the grade on the west end of the bridge, received from the public has been addressed. In addition, a number making it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to access the pedestrian/ of features have been added to enhance the cycling and recreational cyclist pathway on the bridge. The originally proposed spiral ramp opportunities. has been replaced with a more conventional ramp with a 5% grade. The project is conducting a detailed design consultation with the cycling community to gather input on: 5. Participants generally preferred the six general-purpose lanes option, with HOV extension in the future when the bridge is widened. Those • New pedestrian/cycling ramp design on the west end of the new Pitt supporting HOV lanes said they should be built after HOV lanes on River Bridge Lougheed Highway are extended. • Additional connection to pedestrian/cycling pathway east of the new • The bridge design maintains three lanes westbound and adds a Pitt River Bridge fourth lane eastbound to improve truck access to the CP Intermodal yard on the east end of the bridge and to smooth traffic flow for vehicles continuing east. • HOV lanes can be added when the HOV system is in place.

6. The City of Port Coquitlam expressed a preference for access to Fremont Street and the Dominion Triangle area. • Access to the Dominion Triangle area will be provided by a new Fremont Street extension.

 Design Features

Design Features Lanes Across New Pitt River Bridge Incorporating the input received during the pre-design consultation, the project’s technical features include the following: • The new Pitt River Bridge will be a cable-stayed bridge using an innovative design. • The height of the new bridge will provide up to 16m of clearance over a 100 metre wide shipping channel in the Pitt River. • The bridge will have seven through lanes (each 3.6m wide), with the ability to provide additional capacity in the future that could be used for light rail transit or other options. • The bridge will have a 3.5 meter wide pedestrian and bicycle pathway 3.5m 3 lanes Westbound 4 lanes Eastbound 2.0m on the north side. • The bridge and interchange will accommodate municipal plans to build the Fremont extension supporting future development in Port Coquitlam. • Following construction of the new bridge, the existing swing bridges will be decommissioned and removed. • The bridge will enhance the aquatic and riparian river environments and the movement of marine traffic by replacing the existing 18 piers with one pier in the river and two on the river’s edge. • The project will provide new pedestrian and cycling access under the bridge, on both sides, and the connection of existing pedestrian and cycling pathways. • The interchange will have no traffic signals and will accommodate all existing traffic movements. • The Kennedy Road intersection will be upgraded to more efficiently accommodate traffic entering the CP Intermodal yard. • The project includes enhanced storm water management on the bridge and interchange, including oil/water separators at both ends of the main span of the bridge.

 Pitt River Bridge – Mary Hill Interchange Detailed Design Consultation • June 2007

CONSULTATION TOPICS New Pedestrian/Cycling Ramp Design N on the West End of the New Pitt River Bridge Port Coquitlam The design for the bridge has the bridge elevation lower on the west end than originally proposed in the pre-design consultation. This new design Traboulay Port Coquitlam Trail means that the distance required for pedestrians and cyclists to access the bridge deck is much shorter. Approach to At-grade crossing main bridge Access to the bridge will be provided by a much 5% grade shorter, more conventional ramp. The spiral ramp At-grade crossing proposed in the pre-design consultation is no longer required. A A The Gateway Program would like to know if the public has any further comments on this change in the ramp design. Tie into future intersection

Pathway under bridge, see insert

Bridge

Traboulay Port Coquitlam Trail

Proposed extension of multi-use path to Road Pathway River Kingsway Avenue Legend – Pedestrian/Cycling Features Proposed 3.5m wide multi-use path Dike Potential multi-use path Cross-Section A-A Existing multi-use path Pedestrian/Cycle Pathway West Side on top of the dike



Consultation Topics N Additional Connection to Pedestrian/Cycling Pathway Pitt Meadows East of the New Pitt River Bridge The design proposes that pedestrians and cyclists crossing the bridge eastbound travel to Dewdney Trunk Road and cross at the intersection to access the existing pedestrian/cycling Pitt River Regional pathway on the south side of Lougheed Highway. The Gateway Greenway by GVRD Program assumes that most commuter cyclists will use this route, while most recreational cyclists will access the new Approach to main bridge pedestrian/cyclist pathway that will be built on the new dike, maximum 5% grade under the bridge. The Gateway Program could add a paved pathway from the pedestrian/cyclist pathway under the bridge to the shoulder B B on the south side of Lougheed Highway, eastbound. (See the blue dotted line on the map for the proposed location.) Pathway The Gateway Program will gather feedback on whether the under bridge, Pitt River Regional public supports this additional pedestrian/cycling connection. see insert Greenway by GVRD

Bridge

Legend – Pedestrian/Cycling Features Proposed 3.5m wide multi-use path Potential multi-use path River Existing multi-use path Pathway

Dike

Cross-Section B-B Pedestrian/Cycle Pathway East Side on top of the dike

 FEEDBACK FORM

1. New Pedestrian/Cycling Ramp Design on West End of Bridge Access to the west end of the new bridge will be provided by a much shorter, more conventional ramp. The Gateway Program would like to know if the public has any feedback about this change in the ramp design. Comments:

2. Additional Connection to the Pedestrian/Cycling Pathway Under the East End of the New Pitt River Bridge It is possible to connect the paved pedestrian/cycling pathway that is under the east end of the bridge to the the shoulder of Lougheed Highway (eastbound). Using the following scale, please indicate your level of agreement with adding this pedestrian/cycling connection, where 1 indicates “strongly agree” and 5 indicates, “strongly disagree”. Please mark an “X” in the box to indicate your preference.

1 Strongly agree 2 Somewhat agree 3 Neither agree nor disagree 4 Somewhat disagree 5 Strongly disagree

Comments:

3. Additional comments? For further information about the proposed improvements please visit our website at www.gatewayprogram.bc.ca or contact:

[email protected] Tel: 604-456-2420 Fax: 604-439-2585

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