19 December 2010

NCA wants your thoughts on the Bowen Place crossing

| johnboy
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The National Capital Authority is kicking off a consultation and have brought back the tripping bird on what to do with the pedestrian crossing at Bowen Place whereby cyclists and pedestrians risk life and limb getting from Kings Avenue Bridge to the southern lake foreshore.

‘The NCA has been working with representatives from heritage, pedestrian, cycling and motorist groups for the last twelve months.

‘Based on comments received by the stakeholder groups, three options have been selected for broader public consultation,’ said NCA Chief Executive, Gary Rake.

The options include:

— Footbridge over Bowen Place
— Ramp and stairs with traffic signals
— Traffic signals at existing crossing

The correct answer is always a new bridge.

Submissions close 25 February 2011.

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The sensible thing to do is move the bike path to the other side of the bridge and erect a footbridge on the non-heritage side of the bridge, taking the pedestrian traffic right over the road to the lakeshore.

So what will probably happen is we’ll get traffic lights.

well they won out with refusing traffic lights a the war memorial on heritage vista grounds even after people died right there.

Wow. I mean wow. Its clear that a bridge would literally save a person’s life one day. possibly more than one. All the environmental, health, cycling, running, walking groups endorse the bridge. its the most logical option.

yet here we have these heritage and burley griffin groups who don’t want the geometry of their sacred ‘hidden’ illuminati owl in the parliamentary triangle messed up due to a footbridge. its so blatant that they are willing to risk the lives of people to keep their sacred geometries. unbelievable

Illuminati, sacred geometry, owls? Do the reptoids know you know about this?

Wow. I mean wow. Its clear that a bridge would literally save a person’s life one day. possibly more than one. All the environmental, health, cycling, running, walking groups endorse the bridge. its the most logical option.

yet here we have these heritage and burley griffin groups who don’t want the geometry of their sacred ‘hidden’ illuminati owl in the parliamentary triangle messed up due to a footbridge. its so blatant that they are willing to risk the lives of people to keep their sacred geometries. unbelievable

I am normally big on heritage type stuff, but I am just failing to see the heritage implications here.

An overpass would be the common sense answer. Given that the road is already fairly close to the a road overpass, I hardly think the Heritage idiots have much to complain about, the site would also be half hidden by the trees there.

If they really want to chuck a tanty they should fund an underpass, the existing slope of the road would enable the road to be heightened and and a path be built under.

Gah, apologies for the terrible formatting. Could anyone tell me where to find a guide to the correct tags to use for URLs, quotes, etc?

Check out the vehicle bridge over lake ginninderra, or commonwealth bridge! There are ramps and steps on both sides of each – maybe more room there but Kings Ave gives the designer a great opportunity to be creative. Bowen place should be left to the petrolheads.

Something, anything would be better than the ‘chance it’ option at the moment.

The issue is there’s not a whole lot of space to play with between the road and the lake under that bridge and that means the designers need to think outside the square….

My vote – bridge at lease and possibly steps as well for those looking for a more direct route up and down.

screaming banshee12:45 pm 20 Dec 10

The problem with the road there is every wanker and his dog is racing to get in front of each other at the form one lane, I dont understand why they dont reconfigure so the left lane turns up onto kings and the right lane goes straight ahead to the roundabout then whack a ped xing in that perhaps would line up with the path that nobody uses.

Short of that, yes the ramp would be ideal. It can be a heritage looking fancy architect wanky piece of shit for all I care, as long is it works and is a gentle enough gradient for all users. Hell perhaps it could be stanhopeless’ next art project and we could call it the immigration bridge ramp.

I find it bizarre that an underpass hasn’t even been put on the table. There’s one opposite Albert Hall that goes under Commonwealth Avenue.

What’s special about Bowen Drive that precludes the obvious solution that would keep drivers, pedestrians and Heritage happy?

A Bridge would require ramps and steps at both ends. A well designed SINGLE ramp from the bike path to the bridge is cheaper, safer, aesthetically more pleasing and easier for old codgers like me. Therefore we will get a bridge.

Bridge would be best, but they could also reduce the speed limit and put in a pedestrian crossing.

I walk/BMX that crossing almost every day, going from Reid CIT to Manuka… I can’t belive people have a problem with that crossing, nice visibility, a refuge half way… I don’t see a problem

For a short term solution, they could move the crossing a bit further up the road (away from the lake) to avoid the bend.

I shouldnt be too hard to build something straight up to the bridge

Erg0 said :

Failing that, how about an underpass for pedestrians?

Would be hard to argue against a underpass on heritage grounds, since they are pretty much out of sight…

So I expect we’ll get traffic lights.

I’ll add my vote to that being the safest and most practical long-term solution. A ramp right here would be ideal. Traffic lights would be madness given the volume of traffic that goes through there, especially at peak times.

Another +1 for this!

Kim F said :

I vote for a ramp directly from Kings Ave Bridge to existing lakeside bike path

That’s the ticket.

Failing that, how about an underpass for pedestrians?

Kim F said :

I vote for a ramp directly from Kings Ave Bridge to existing lakeside bike path

I’ll add my vote to that being the safest and most practical long-term solution. A ramp right [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Canberra,+Australian+Capital+Territory,+Australia&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.281301,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Canberra+Australian+Capital+Territory,+Australia&ll=-35.302022,149.139721&spn=0.000603,0.001206&t=k&z=20]here[/url] would be ideal. Traffic lights would be madness given the volume of traffic that goes through there, especially at peak times.

That spot is wickedly hard to cross even in the best of conditions. It’s impossible to see very far down the road to the east, so you’ve got very short notice of oncoming traffic. It’s difficult enough as an adult with good eyesight and judgement (and a quick turn of speed if need be!), but I hate to think of what it’s like to be trying to cross there as a child or elderly person, or someone with an injury or disability.

Holden Caulfield11:21 pm 19 Dec 10

Kim F said :

I vote for a ramp directly from Kings Ave Bridge to existing lakeside bike path

That would be perfect.

So, I bet we will get traffic lights.

It appears the bridge is the preferred option for nearly everyone except National Trust of Australia and a few others. The cynic in me thinks that means we’ll end up with traffic lights.

ban the cars. solved!

I vote for a ramp directly from Kings Ave Bridge to existing lakeside bike path

A footbridge would be fine, I believe. Having nothing there to mediate is the reason I don’t ride to work – just too dangerous.

It is petrifying with toddlers and/or a pram.

I’m not sure what is the best answer. Traffic lights would probably do.

Gotta be a footbridge, with a million runners per year perhaps trying to do the two bridges safely you really don’t want traffic lights, yuk.

Saw a poor interstate teacher there trying to cross there with a classfull of students on rented bikes en route to War Memorial…
Certainly needs something.

OpenYourMind1:54 pm 19 Dec 10

Not sure what, but something needs to be done as this is a very busy crossing for cyclists, pedestrians and runners. It’s not easy to cross on a bicycle or on foot as the traffic speeds around the Bowen bend.

hopefully a footbridge will be chosen. keep the traffic flowing. the floriade lights are a pain, so please don’t add more here..

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