Council is saving $250,000 in its budget by putting the brakes on repairs to the Marina Park Overpass.
They are asking city Administration to come back to them with a report on some options for the structure, including closing it.
It was one of the decisions made at last night’s budget meeting, which finished with a slight increase to the proposed tax levy increase. After Tuesday’s meeting, it was 2.41% after growth, or 3.25% before growth. It is now 2.43% with growth factored in, and 3.28% not counting growth.
The motion came from Councillor Aldo Ruberto, who suggests the overpass isn’t worth the costs to repair or replace it. The total cost put forward in the budget for the overpass is $1.5 million, but most of that is coming from outside sources like the federal gas tax.
He says he gets complaints from the Prince Arthur Hotel about people loitering in the covered walkway, and about its cleanliness.
Ruberto maintains that there are three other entrances to Marina Park and Prince Arthur’s Landing. He claims the longer walk from the downtown core to the Camelot Street railway crossing or the Sleeping Giant Parkway overpass will not discourage pedestrians.
Current River Councillor Andrew Foulds doesn’t share that view. As a member of the Waterfront District Business Improvement Area board, Foulds says he’s heard it’s a “critical” piece of infrastructure for the area.
City Engineering Director Kayla Dixon points out that the overpass is heavily used for some events like Bluesfest. Without repairs, she says it would have to be shut down for some events due to structural issues like corrosion.
She notes they can also talk to CN Rail about creating another railway crossing at the bottom of Red River Road, but that could take “several years” to sort out negotiations.
Dixon adds that previously CP and CN Rail have said they want the Camelot Street crossing closed if a new crosswalk is added.