6th Street Bridge FAQs
Questions
- What is the 6th Street Active Transportation Bridge Project?
- Why an active transportation bridge?
- Why a bridge at 6th Street?
- Why was the bridge design selected?
- How much will this cost?
- When will it be built?
- How will construction impact the area?
- How was the bridge width chosen?
- Why didn't the City widen the 5th Street Bridge instead?
- How can the community stay informed?
Answers
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What is the 6th Street Active Transportation Bridge Project?
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.
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Why an active transportation bridge?
The City of Courtenay is investing in its downtown, moving forward projects and initiatives that will help to achieve a long-term vision for the city’s downtown hub. The 6th Street Bridge is a key connecting feature. It will build accessibility and connectivity, create access to improved riverfront spaces and enable economic development.
The project is identified in various long-term plans, including the Downtown Courtenay Playbook: A Partnership Action Plan, City of Courtenay Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Connecting Courtenay: Cycling Network Plan and Draft Transportation Master Plan
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Why a bridge at 6th Street?
The 6th Street Bridge will create a connection across the river using an existing road right-of way to pathways on the west side of the river (including the Courtenay Riverway and designated bike boulevard/neighbourhood bikeway on 6th Street, identified in the cycling network plan) and those on the east side of the river including in Simms Millennium Park, and to the Lewis Centre. The central location is steps away from downtown Courtenay.
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Why was the bridge design selected?
Four bridge alternatives were considered in a detailed options analysis. Multiple criteria were evaluated, including considerations for constructability, environmental impact, user experience and aesthetics. The cable-stayed bridge design was selected by Courtenay Council as the preferred option because:
- During construction, the staging area will have a smaller footprint by using a modular construction method which will allow for smaller equipment and bridge components, requiring fewer trees to be removed.
- Cable-stayed bridges are inherently efficient structures, which translates to less materials used.
- Spanning over the river eliminates need to construct any piers in the water.
- The cable stayed bridge allows for flatter approach grades to improve the user experience.
- It has a high aesthetic appeal and minimal available area for graffiti.
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How much will this cost?
The project budget for the 6th Street Bridge is $11.1 million. This will be paid for by:
- $5.55 million in federal/provincial grants
- $1.8 million in City surplus and reserves
- $3.75 million in long-term borrowing
The project is paid for in part by the Government of Canada. Canada’s Active Transportation Fund is providing $2.5 million in funding for the project.
The City will continue to look for other grant opportunities and funding options to support the project.
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When will it be built?
The construction contract has been awarded to Surespan and plans are underway for the start of construction, expected in fall 2025. Watch the project webpage for schedule updates as they're available.
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How will construction impact the area?
While details of construction impacts are still to be confirmed, there are some disruptions we already anticipate:
- 6th Street: Traffic on 6th Street between Cliffe and Anderton avenues will be disrupted during construction. 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 during construction of the bridge, trail connections and trail roundabout. This will require some vegetation removal, including the removal an estimated 13-16 trees with diameter greater than 15 cm (majority Black Cottonwood and Red Alder) for the bridge footprint and the safety of people constructing, and then using, the bridge.
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How was the bridge width chosen?
BC Active Transportation Guidelines provide direction of path sizes required based on use. In 2019, user volume in the area was measured and indicated a minimum 3.5-metre path was required based on those guidelines. The 4-metre width was proposed on the assumption that user volumes would grow in the future. For comparison, several multi-user trails in the Lower Mainland, including the Central Valley Greenway in Burnaby, BC, and the North Shore Spirit Trail in North Vancouver, BC, have 4-metre-wide bridges along their routes.
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Why didn't the City widen the 5th Street Bridge instead?
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.
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How can the community stay informed?
The City will keep the community informed as the project progresses. Residents are invited to watch for updates on the 6th Street Bridge page and follow the City of Courtenay on social media.