7 March 2012

The Belco Red Bridge to be reborn on Molonglo Reach

| johnboy
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red bridge

Territory and Municipal Services have the fascinating news that the iconic warehoused Belconnen “Red Bridge” is going to ride to the rescue of the Molonglo Reach bike path.

“Flooding arising from the heavy rain last week again damaged the interim pathway along Molonglo Reach, east of the Clare Holland House (ACT Hospice) which was restored for pedestrian use after flooding in December 2010. The ACT Government is investigating interim transit arrangements while pursuing a permanent solution for the pathway,” Mr Gill said.

“A study has been undertaken which has identified a preferred solution for the pathway. The proposed solution utilises the surplus pedestrian bridge from Belconnen Westfield to span the failed pavement. The bridge option is necessary due to the poor soil conditions along the river edge which make the replacement of the path difficult.

“The bridge, which previously connected the Belconnen Mall and Lathlain Street and was known locally as the ‘red bridge’, is intended to be painted grey and landscaping work undertaken to ensure the visual impact is minimised.

“Environmental considerations have also been taken into account, with the proposed construction methodology and program chosen to ensure that nearby platypus burrows remain undisturbed.”

During construction, all cyclist and pedestrian traffic will be diverted to a two-way protected path along Morshead Drive for approximately 270 metres. This path will be separated from westbound traffic on Morshead Drive by a concrete barrier. Due to the recent pathway damage it is anticipated that this detour will be introduced ahead of schedule.

Is there nothing that bridge can’t do?

Here’s an artists impression of what it will look like:

molonglo

Sadly there’s a consultation process which sadly runs to 13 April instead of just cracking on with it.

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I knew the guy who managed this bridge build in its original incarnation. I wonder if he has an opinion on the colour. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t give a rats. Props to whoever came up with the idea of using, or re-using this bridge.

Has anyone considered the heritage considerations of repainting the Red Bridge Grey, and losing a highly significant piece of heritage architecture in our fair territory?

JessP said :

damien haas said :

…It is a well known fact that the Canberra platypus is offended by the colour red. Religious reasons I understand. Grey is an acceptable colour.

Perhaps Rioters should avail themselves of that otherwise useless consultation period to lobby to paint it red. To hell with the platypii!

PrinceOfAles11:56 pm 07 Mar 12

Sounds like a great plan. But please let it be red.

Let this be a lesson to us all – never throw away a bridge, you never know when it might come in handy.

Whoever thought of that needs a pat on the back, and all their bosses jobs.

It’s not often bureaucrats use their brain. Well done.

BenMac said :

During construction, all cyclist and pedestrian traffic will be diverted to a two-way protected path along Morshead Drive for approximately 270 metres. This path will be separated from westbound traffic on Morshead Drive by a concrete barrier.

Be interesting to see how this works. Putting a pedestrian/cycle path in would serverely narrow the two lanes of west bound traffic. I rode along there yesterday (to avoid the damaged path) and it’s already pretty narrow.

I sometimes ride past there on the road as the path is going to take me out of my way and into crowds. Will I be able to get off the road onto this path, or will the barriers force me to remain on the road ?

EvanJames said :

Consultation? They are consulting. They told us about it. Why go through the standard consultation charade?

Check box bureaucracy. Or, covering your arse.

wildturkeycanoe7:58 pm 07 Mar 12

“Environmental considerations have also been taken into account, with the proposed construction methodology and program chosen to ensure that nearby platypus burrows remain undisturbed.”
So, the massive erosion caused by the flood didn’t do any more damage than what stabilising Morshead Dr. would do?? They must do something to stop the rest of the hillside collapsing, so why not incorporate that into a new [stronger] bike path?
Bear in mind people, that this photo has been “tinkered with” to show wonderful green trees and shoreline, which didn’t exist prior to this point in time, and probably wouldn’t exist in the future after a flood as we have just experienced. There has to be tonnes of rock or soil poured into the area to create this footing for Morshead Dr. before any bridge can be placed. A lot of work and I bet not cheap, considering the location and access.
I see another leak in the taxpayers bucket, draining into LBG.
I’m not getting a warm fuzzy feeling at all.

PM said :

It must be red!

And I like to think it was saved as a result of a Belconnen Community Council meeting… If I recall correctly, the meeting was told the Red Bridge was to become scrap.

PS – I know the son of one the blokes who initially built it!

It was built in Tamworth, right?

Pork Hunt said :

EvanJames said :

Once it’s up and painted, people could have some fun staging guerilla painting raids in the night.

And with cooler weather coming on they could be guerillas in the mist…

… waving paint pots…

EvanJames said :

Once it’s up and painted, people could have some fun staging guerilla painting raids in the night.

And with cooler weather coming on they could be guerillas in the mist…

PM said :

It must be red!
PS – I know the son of one the blokes who initially built it!

wow, you must be almost famous

During construction, all cyclist and pedestrian traffic will be diverted to a two-way protected path along Morshead Drive for approximately 270 metres. This path will be separated from westbound traffic on Morshead Drive by a concrete barrier.

Be interesting to see how this works. Putting a pedestrian/cycle path in would serverely narrow the two lanes of west bound traffic. I rode along there yesterday (to avoid the damaged path) and it’s already pretty narrow.

EvanJames said :

Once it’s up and painted, people could have some fun staging guerilla painting raids in the night.

I like

Once it’s up and painted, people could have some fun staging guerilla painting raids in the night.

I say let them repaint it, then we who are “in the know” can gain social capital by explaining to new arrivals and tourists why everyone calls it the red bridge.

It must be red!

And I like to think it was saved as a result of a Belconnen Community Council meeting… If I recall correctly, the meeting was told the Red Bridge was to become scrap.

PS – I know the son of one the blokes who initially built it!

I don’t know why they are even thinking about consulting with this.

It’s a complete no brainer.

Great idea. Just do it.

Another good comment.

damien haas said :

Visual impact ?

I see a frickin great road, a stone wall and an asphalt path.

There is no logical reason to paint it grey.

Good comment lol

Consultation? They are consulting. They told us about it. Why go through the standard consultation charade?

A bit of lateral thinking there from some bloke, well done.

But what are they going to do about the clear undermining of the road wall? It won’t take much to have that collapsing, and losing the use of Moreshead Drive is unthinkable, that is one busy road, day and night.

p1 said :

But they can’t repaint the red bridge. It is called the red bridge for a reason.

Was it designed by a Mr Red?

it will have to be known as “the bridge formerly known as red” or they will have to make it’s name an weird symbol

Great solution.

Just some more trivia about this bridge, that being it was fabricated in Tamworth and transported to Canberra by road about 40 years ago.

damien haas said :

Visual impact ?

I see a frickin great road, a stone wall and an asphalt path.

There is no logical reason to paint it grey.

It is a well known fact that the Canberra platypus is offended by the colour red. Religious reasons I understand. Grey is an acceptable colour.

jsm2090 said :

p1 said :

Not much of an artist, they have got the colour wrong.

If you read it, it says they will be painting the bridge grey.

Unless of course you’re referring to the colour of the water, as the artist hasn’t quite captured the Molonglo Effluent Brown’ of the lake in its current state….

But they can’t repaint the red bridge. It is called the red bridge for a reason.

just do it!

Felix the Cat10:33 am 07 Mar 12

Should leave it red as a reminder that it once belonged at Belconnen Mall. Good idea to have a bridge though, rather than another bike path that will again wash away with the next storm.

Awesome! That should appease (almost) everyone.
I wonder if they need to some remediation work to shore up underneath the rock wall though. Looks like it’s going to eventually be eroded away if they don’t?

Visual impact ?

I see a frickin great road, a stone wall and an asphalt path.

There is no logical reason to paint it grey.

p1 said :

Not much of an artist, they have got the colour wrong.

If you read it, it says they will be painting the bridge grey.

Unless of course you’re referring to the colour of the water, as the artist hasn’t quite captured the Molonglo Effluent Brown’ of the lake in its current state….

Not much of an artist, they have got the colour wrong.

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