Taken this morning:
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Amare said:
Lovely photos here.

Just wanted to make a side note: when will Hamilton ever re-construct the Longwood Bridge. That thing desperately needs to be repaired and is a severe pedestrian hazard.
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It was supposed to be redone as a part of the LRT project, but now Metrolinx is rerouting the LRT over the Main St 403 bridge instead so that is getting rebuilt.

I believe the City has started budgeting to replace Longwood in 2032 now instead, so only a few years later, and on the City dime (likely with partial MTO funding) instead of on Metrolinx's dime.

The latest update from the City on the assessment of the bridge indicates that it needs to be replaced by 2032 at the latest:


Having been built in 1955 (it's newer than I thought it would be actually!), it would be one of the oldest highway overpasses left on the provincial highway network. The last of the 1930's era overpasses in Oshawa over the 401 are gone, leaving only a few 1950's overpasses left on the 400 all of which are scheduled to be replaced in the next few years.
 
It annoys me greatly as I've mentioned to the councilor a few times that the bridge needs better cycling and pedestrian facilities and we should be doing so before the replacement. They added a buffer to the lone sidewalk after they repaved, which is better than nothing but still woefully inadequate. Reasonably the Southbound side doesn't need two lanes until Longwood meets Aberdeen, so all car lanes should be shifted west and then the eastern most lane should be converted to a bi-directional bike lane from Main to Frid. That's a solution that could be implemented damn near immediately and provide a massive improvement to safety for all the students that travel over the bridge, while providing a safer 403 bicycle crossing than either Main or King and more direct than the rail trail.

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BrenWilson said:
It annoys me greatly as I've mentioned to the councilor a few times that the bridge needs better cycling and pedestrian facilities and we should be doing so before the replacement. They added a buffer to the lone sidewalk after they repaved, which is better than nothing but still woefully inadequate. Reasonably the Southbound side doesn't need two lanes until Longwood meets Aberdeen, so all car lanes should be shifted west and then the eastern most lane should be converted to a bi-directional bike lane from Main to Frid. That's a solution that could be implemented damn near immediately and provide a massive improvement to safety for all the students that travel over the bridge, while providing a safer 403 bicycle crossing than either Main or King and more direct than the rail trail.

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Maybe I'll use my Cycle Hamilton powers to push for this a bit
 
I know it would be a big budget project and it's mostly provincial but I would really love to see Aberdeen continue west-bound to Main st and the 403 on and off ramps reconfigured as that extension. It would take a lot of volume away from Longwood which right now is just a disaster for pedestrians and cyclists.
 
Crapht said:
I know it would be a big budget project and it's mostly provincial but I would really love to see Aberdeen continue west-bound to Main st and the 403 on and off ramps reconfigured as that extension. It would take a lot of volume away from Longwood which right now is just a disaster for pedestrians and cyclists.
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Would be an interesting rearrangement, something like this? Curious how it would handle the huge amounts of morning commuters to McMaster.

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BrenWilson said:
Would be an interesting rearrangement, something like this? Curious how it would handle the huge amounts of morning commuters to McMaster.

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That's actually a great idea that would really open up traffic flow in the area - and make getting to McMaster from the 403 much easier for those coming down the Mountian.
 
I'm supportive of this generally, but the area, especially Aberdeen to the East really needs some additional traffic calming too first. The entire MIP is a bit hostile. So many people walk and cycle to it and yet the entire area feels like a through-street for drivers leaving work. Longwood could likely be 1 lane each direction majority of its length, and some additional trees and a bicycle lane would help a lot.
 
BrenWilson said:
Would be an interesting rearrangement, something like this? Curious how it would handle the huge amounts of morning commuters to McMaster.
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Yeah I was thinking something like that but I didn't consider roundabouts. It's a good idea. I was thinking standard traffic lights. Regardless, it could work. And as always I would say cycling infrastructure should be included.
 
I know Longwood and Aberdeen will eventually be converted to a Roundabout, it was tied up in LRT related works but I guess now is just waiting on the City to figure it out.
 
Yeah the replacement of the bridge and upgrade of the pedestrian and cycling facilities was kicked to LRT (the first time), and then kicked to the second iteration of LRT, and then when the alignment changed the rebuild of the bridge was removed from LRT scope. Basically the city has just made minimal improvements in the interim for 10+ years because the replacement was "just around the corner".
 
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