Bowen Place upgrade back on track

c_c said :

KB1971 said :

I dont know why we need an underpass, why not just loop a skybridge from the bike path to the side of the Kings Ave bridge. Or just an overpass pedestrian bridge like the rest of Canberra.

Really?

It has to do with what will have the least impact on the landscape while offering the most utility for users. Underpass is an elegant solution. Any sort of over pass not only creates an eye sore visually, but will no doubt need to be caged to prevent rock throwers, creating an even greater eye sore.

Yep really, the location is not that picturesque anyway and underpasses can be horrible places at night.

My thoughts are a bridge making an arc form the existing shared path to the side of Kings Ave bridge so it doesnt go over the road anyway.

Mind you, it would probably end up costing as much with the way the tender process is conducted.

BTW, there is nothing stopping people throwing rocks onto cars on Bowen Dve from Kings Ave ATM & if you had not noticed, there is a bloody big eysore of a bridge in the local area already.

damien haas said :

I made a submission over a year ago, suggesting that instead of spending 10 million dollars and building an underpass… build a simple stair case rising from the cycle path adjacent to the lakes edge, to the bridge.

People with prams, bike and segway riders and the disabled will still need to use the existing, dangerous quasi-crossing.

No, nothing screwy this idea.

I acknowledge this this stretch of road and quasi-crossing can be dangerous, but as a regular car driver through here and a sometime pedestrian the only time I have ever encountered any real concern is when pedestrians have walked out without looking.

Or worse, on one occasion, a pedestrian looked, clearly saw me, and still walked out, meaning I had to use reasonable braking force to avoid knocking her over.

So while I can see there will be improvements with the underpass approach if dumb arses are prepared to walk onto a road when they don’t have right of way then the issue of car v pedestrian and the inevitable results will just get shifted to the next problem area.

When you’re on the road, regardless of your mode of transport, pay attention. It’s a pretty simple concept to grasp, you’d think.

Snave81 said :

I thought that the NCA had ruled out the underpass option before going to public consultation despite it being the better option.

When did a bridge turn into an underpass or is it just because the feds are paying?

the underpass became the write in candidate under the “do it once, do it properly” theory. the NCA tried to take it out of the running because it would cost more, the commenting public put it back on the agenda

Masquara said :

c_c said :

It’s Commonwealth funding, for a Commonwealth project, on Commonwealth land (or land within their planning control).

Problem… none.

There is definitely an issue, sorry. During Caretaker there is NO government. Simon Crean is flouting convention. The fact that it is a Commonwealth project is irrelevant: Katie Gallagher has wrongly been included in the publicity. WRONG.

This person votes.

glen said :

1) close road for a day
2) dig a big trench with a nice excavator
3) drop in with crane a few prefab reo concrete drainage culverts
4) put dirt back on top
5) fix road.
10 million bucks eh ? ahh the public sector way. if only these people had ever worked in the private sector that’s know what value for money was.

Ahh the ignorant internet user way. You seem to have no concept of how to construct a sentence let alone an underpass.

When the Bowen Place crossing was open for public consultation, weren’t there 3 options (the underpass not being one of then) and a bridge was chosen as the preferred option over the traffic lights or pedestrian crossing? I thought that the NCA had ruled out the underpass option before going to public consultation despite it being the better option. When did a bridge turn into an underpass or is it just because the feds are paying?

damien haas said :

I made a submission over a year ago, suggesting that instead of spending 10 million dollars and building an underpass you just know people will be mugged in, or choose not to use at night and therefore still get hit crossing the road – that they build a simple stair case rising from the cycle path adjacent to the lakes edge, to the bridge.

The underpass is most needed during peak hours, when there’s lots of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. If people want to avoid the underpass at night because of a perceived safety concern (which I don’t really think exists in this area) then I don’t think that’s a major issue.

If you built a bridge then people would ignore it and cross the road because they’re too lazy to walk/ride uphill. And I’m sure the cyclists would love to have to dismount and climb some stairs (not to mention accessibility issues).

1) close road for a day
2) dig a big trench with a nice excavator
3) drop in with crane a few prefab reo concrete drainage culverts
4) put dirt back on top
5) fix road.
10 million bucks eh ? ahh the public sector way. if only these people had ever worked in the private sector that’s know what value for money was.

shauno said :

$10 million surely we can do it for a lot cheaper than that. What so dig ditch across road place pre fabricated concrete blocks in ditch cover over re pave road and connect bike path. 10 million you beauty. And its going to take 12 months? In Singapore this sort of thing would be built in a couple of months.

based on your extensive engineering experience, obviously.

Masquara said :

It’s Caretaker period – so why is Simon Crean ignoring the Caretaker conventions (they exist for good reason)? Simon Crean should have issued the release either jointly with ACT Liberals and ACT Labor, or issued it outside Caretaker period. BAD FORM SIMON CREAN!

*sigh* moron.

$10 million surely we can do it for a lot cheaper than that. What so dig ditch across road place pre fabricated concrete blocks in ditch cover over re pave road and connect bike path. 10 million you beauty. And its going to take 12 months? In Singapore this sort of thing would be built in a couple of months.

c_c said :

It’s Commonwealth funding, for a Commonwealth project, on Commonwealth land (or land within their planning control).

Problem… none.

There is definitely an issue, sorry. During Caretaker there is NO government. Simon Crean is flouting convention. The fact that it is a Commonwealth project is irrelevant: Katie Gallagher has wrongly been included in the publicity. WRONG.

I really hope the cyclist’s lobby recognizes the impost on our already promised tripled housing rates for their pure cycling enjoyment!!!! If I was asked to contribute, I would NOT, but the government seems hell bent on taxing me to pay for the little luxuries that our two-wheeled “friends” keep receiving.

I made a submission over a year ago, suggesting that instead of spending 10 million dollars and building an underpass you just know people will be mugged in, or choose not to use at night and therefore still get hit crossing the road – that they build a simple stair case rising from the cycle path adjacent to the lakes edge, to the bridge.

It’s Commonwealth funding, for a Commonwealth project, on Commonwealth land (or land within their planning control).

Problem… none.

It’s Caretaker period – so why is Simon Crean ignoring the Caretaker conventions (they exist for good reason)? Simon Crean should have issued the release either jointly with ACT Liberals and ACT Labor, or issued it outside Caretaker period. BAD FORM SIMON CREAN!

People can get around or loop the lake without crossing Bowen PL

Well at least this one will be used by hundreds of people each day, for the $10 million, unlike the proposed Adelaide Avenue bus stops where for the same money we’ll get a dozen or two each day, optimistically speaking.

c_c said :

KB1971 said :

I dont know why we need an underpass, why not just loop a skybridge from the bike path to the side of the Kings Ave bridge. Or just an overpass pedestrian bridge like the rest of Canberra.

Really?

It has to do with what will have the least impact on the landscape while offering the most utility for users. Underpass is an elegant solution. Any sort of over pass not only creates an eye sore visually, but will no doubt need to be caged to prevent rock throwers, creating an even greater eye sore.

But a bridge will give a troll a new home. Anyone seen Henry BG lately?

can we get bookies odds on what will be finished first, this underpass or the repairs to the bike path between the hospice and RMC?

where has the pedal power agitation been on the seemingly complete lack of progress in getting part of the cities existing cycle infrastructure repaired ?

KB1971 said :

I dont know why we need an underpass, why not just loop a skybridge from the bike path to the side of the Kings Ave bridge. Or just an overpass pedestrian bridge like the rest of Canberra.

Really?

It has to do with what will have the least impact on the landscape while offering the most utility for users. Underpass is an elegant solution. Any sort of over pass not only creates an eye sore visually, but will no doubt need to be caged to prevent rock throwers, creating an even greater eye sore.

I dont know why we need an underpass, why not just loop a skybridge from the bike path to the side of the Kings Ave bridge. Or just an overpass pedestrian bridge like the rest of Canberra.

Well it’s a dangerous crossing…. 10 million dollars dangerous? hmmmmmmmmmmm

If they widened it, put a pedestrian island in the middle, and put some lines on the road, it would be much safer. The problem is everyone swings around the circle at full speed. If drivers want to go into the right lane, they just casually drift wide, which makes it difficult to cross