The Town of Banff’s plan to build a multi-million dollar pedestrian bridge across the Bow River at the end of Muskrat Street has met strong opposition from residents in the neighbourhood.
Residents on Buffalo Street and the surrounding neighbourhood called on council to delay the project, saying concerns about increased noise, vandalism, traffic and parking issues haven’t been adequately addressed.
“The need for a bridge is huge, but can we all be assured we’ve done our due diligence?” asked resident Dick Smith. “This will be your legacy and the Town’s legacy and we have to get it right.”
The multi-million dollar project aims to replace aging water and sewer lines across the Bow River by slinging them below a new pedestrian bridge, located at the end of Muskrat Street.
Council said they are taking the residents’ concerns seriously, adding there will be a public open house in February and an environmental assessment that would also address several issues.
After lengthy discussion, council gave administration the go-ahead to move ahead with the project, particularly amid fears raw sewage would spew into the river should an aging sewer pipe break.
Councillor Stavros Karlos said he welcomed feedback from residents.
“We will use the open house as an opportunity to go above and beyond. This to me now is an opportunity to look at trail connections, noise and safety and attempt to mitigate those concerns,” he said.
“I’d also like to look at additional mitigation measures for issues of noise and vandalism and that could include shutting the bridge down at night.”
The pedestrian bridge concept has been tossed around since 1914 and currently the approved budget is $6.85 million.
The Town has opted to go with a design-build proposal on a fixed price contract with StructureCraft Builders Inc., known for projects like the Richmond Olympic Oval and Princeton Bridge of Dreams.
Adrian Field, the Town’s engineering manager, said the pipes are in “dire need of replacement.”
“In my opinion, there is a significant risk we could have a failure of the pipes,” he said, noting they were installed prior to 1968.
“I worry if we delay much further we will push this project back into the following year and, that being the case, our exposure to risk of failure is increased.”
Dwayne Lepitzki, president and chairman of the Buffalo Street Manor condo board, was frustrated by a lack of consultation from the Town so far, and is disappointed with the decision to push ahead.
“The few residents I have spoken with today are completely against the pedestrian bridge at the end of Muskrat Street,” said Lepitzki, who was representing 15 owners and 34 residents.
“Will there indeed be a potential influx of 17,000 pedestrians through our residential neighbourhood? Will there be an increase in noise, traffic and litter? What are the implications to property values? Will our sidewalk need upgrading? Who will pay for the upgrades? Have all the options been thoroughly explored?”
Lepitzki, a conservation biologist who has written and reviewed many environmental assessments, said two extremely important sections of an environment assessment are the alternatives and socio-economic impacts.
“But they are also important items to be considered well before an EA is written or even contemplated. Both these items have not yet been sufficiently explored and debated,” he said.
“It is premature for council to decide that the combination utility-pedestrian bridge at the end of Muskrat Street is the preferred option at this time.”
In a letter presented to council, other Buffalo Street residents also raised fears of noise pollution, garbage, traffic problems, dog droppings and rowdiness, fights, vandalism and break-ins after bars close.
“The residents who live along the path know how bad it is now and council wants to subject us to a thousand-fold worse scenario,” said Van and Iris Christou, who have lived in Banff for more than 60 years.
“This is tantamount to home invasion. You are taking away people’s quality of life.”
