Council approves repairs to Overlanders bridge sidewalk

NEWS/ CITY — After some hesitation over the cost and low use by the public, City council today approved a $3.3-million fix to the old Overlanders Bridge sidewalk. The repairs will be done next year, taking about three months and followed by resurfacing of the bridge deck.

Council heard from public works director Jen Fretz that the sidewalk must be repaired due to crumbling concrete on the supports underneath.

“Leaving it as is, is not an option,” Fretz told Coun. Tina Lange, who proposed putting gates on either end of the sidewalk “and a little razor wire on top of it” to stop people from using it.

That would be a much cheaper option that the $3.3 million it will cost to put the sidewalk and the supporting structures back in good shape, or the $2.3 million it would cost to remove it.

But concrete is coming detached from the rebar of the supports — called corbels — and is falling off, said Fretz. “We cannot just leave it as it is.”

Still, councillors were tempted by the removal option that’s $1 million less. Some thought the crossing is seldom used, as people can cross on the multi-use path on the opposite side of the bridge, which is separated from traffic.

Coun. Arjun Singh said the sidewalk seems to be used mostly by election candidates and protesters. “The million-dollar savings for just removing it sounds kind of attractive to me.”

Coun. Marg Spina agreed. “I would be happy with the removal of the current pedestrian sidewalk.”

Others, however, felt the sidewalk is needed. “I do see people using it,” said Coun. Donovan Cavers.

“This is kind of scary in terms of falling concrete,” said Coun. Ken Christian. “So something has to be done, it has to be done soon…”

He said pedestrian use of the crossing is likely to increase as the population grows. The $1-million difference between removal and repair “is such that it makes me think that even with relatively low pedestrian counts it’s worthwhile.”

Singh said he was persuaded by the arguments of his colleagues and that he was pleased to know the sidewalk is used by “actual real people” and not just politicians and protesters.

The cost for both the sidewalk and the deck resurfacing will come to $9.42 million.