6th Street Active Transportation Bridge

The 6th Street Active Transportation Bridge will be a four-metre-wide, symmetrical, cable-stayed bridge that will provide a river crossing for those who travel on foot, by bike or other active transportation methods.

The 6th Street Bridge will be paid for with a mix of long-term borrowing, reserves and grant funds, including:

• $2.5 million from the Active Transportation Fund
• $2.555 million from Growing Communities Fund
• $500,000 from Canada Community Building Fund 
   
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The 6th Street Bridge will provide an accessible crossing over the river, using the existing road right-of way on 6th Street. The bridge will connect pathways on both sides of the river — including the Courtenay Riverway and designated bike boulevard/neighbourhood bikeway on 6th Street on the west side (as identified in the Cycling Network Plan), and trails through Simms Millennium Park and routes to the Lewis Centre on the east side.

Its central location is just steps away from downtown Courtenay.

The City reviewed four different bridge design options through a detailed analysis. Each option was assessed for constructibility, environmental impacts, user experience and overall appearance.

Courtenay Council selected the cable-stayed bridge as the preferred design because it:

• Requires a smaller construction area by using modular components and smaller equipment, which means fewer trees will need to be removed.
• Uses materials efficiently (which is inherent to cable-stayed bridges), making it a structurally efficient and cost-effective design.
• Spans the river fully, so no piers or supports are required in the water.
• Provides flatter approach slopes, improving accessibility and comfort for people walking, cycling or rolling.
• Offers a strong visual landmark with clean lines and limited surface area for graffiti.

There are limited impacts to the public during construction:

• 6th Street: There will be limited traffic disruptions on 6th Street between Cliffe and Anderton avenues. The City is committed to working with businesses in the area to ensure access is maintained for customers, staff, deliveries and more. 
• Simms Park: There will be impacts in Simms Millennium Park, with limited access to parts of the park, and closure of the parking lot during construction. The roadway under the Fifth Street bridge, connecting Simms to Lewis parks, is open.

The 5th Street Bridge rehabilitation project that was originally approved by Council in 2019 included widened cantilevered pathways in its design to improve cycling and pedestrian access.

However, based on feedback from the community, including the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association and others, in 2020 Council voted to shift this effort to a dedicated active transportation bridge. Learn more about the 5th Street bridge project.

Construction of the 6^th Street Bridge is planned for an area that has high environmental importance, and careful action will be taken to ensure wildlife and environment are protected. The City has completed and received all required provincial, federal and K’ómoks First Nation permits to undertake the work. The requirements set out in those permits include restrictions around work windows, protection of trees and habitat, active monitoring during periods of sensitive work and more.

While there is a pedestrian pathway on the 5th Street Bridge, it does not provide fully accessible access. The pathway is narrow and makes it difficult for people to pass each other (for example, a wheelchair and a mobility scooter cannot pass side-by-side). The approaches to the bridge also do not meet accessibility standards. Cyclists are asked to either dismount and walk their bikes due to the narrow walkway, or merge into vehicle traffic to ride across. This can be a barrier to people of different ages, abilities and comfort levels who may want to choose active transportation.

Yes, there will be lights on the bridge. These lights have been specifically designed to not create a negative impact on the river environment below while also adding to safety in the area.

With the project now awarded, the cost is fixed with the contractor. Any changes in costs to materials, for example, will not increase the cost to the City. Additional measures also help reduce the risk of cost escalation:

• All permitting was completed before the contract was put out for award, reducing the risk of delays that could increase cost.
• The bridge design requires limited excavation. Other than installing micro-piles into the bedrock, there will be minimal ground disturbance. This reduces the risk of unexpected ground conditions or archaeological findings impacting construction.
• The City’s project team and the contractor are regularly reviewing the project for value-engineering opportunities to identify efficiencies and cost savings.

Several safety measures have been incorporated into the project design to help support safer travel including:

• A new 4-way stop at the intersection of 6th Street, Anderton Avenue and the Home Hardware driveway.
• Two new pedestrian crosswalks.
• New signage to improve visibility and navigation.
• Pre-cast concrete bollards separating the cycling and pedestrian lane from vehicle traffic.
  
   

Some parking spaces along 6th Street are being permanently removed to accommodate the new pathway connection between the Courtenay Riverway and the new bridge. 

The updated layout helps to create a safer and more connected route for path users while supporting improved visibility and safety at nearby intersections and crossings.