$8M cycle pathway OK'd for Peace Bridge

 

By ROB ANDRUSEVICH/Niagara Falls Review  Thursday, January 30, 1997

 

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FORT ERIE - Cyclists and pedestrians have won their battle for safe right of passage over the Peace Bridge and its new twin.

The Peace Bridge Authority will spend approximately $8 million to build a special pedestrian-cycle path on the new bridge, while also expanding the path on the old bridge.

On Monday the PBA approved the plan for the new bridge, which includes a 10-foot wide pedestrian and cycle path, to the tune of $64 million. Once that bridge is open in 2002, the old bridge will be closed for repair for two summers according to PBA operations manager Steve Mayer. The work will include widening that bridge's path to 10 feet from the current six.

The cost for the old bridge's path is $5 million, and exceeds the $3 million for the new bridge's path because the authority will build a special ramp over the Canada Customs area that services transport trucks. Path users will be deposited in a safe area where they can be processed by customs officials.

Mayer cautioned the old bridge's path is not yet a done deal because it must get approval from the New York State historical board. The State Historic Preservation Office considers the old bridge an historic landmark and might oppose physical alterations to the structure as it currently stands.

"I think we've reached a good compromise," Mayer said. Apparently some groups were requesting a 20-foot path for the new bridge.

"We had 190 letters come to us from the public at large and groups, and I'd say 50 to 60 per cent were from pedestrians or bike-related groups," Mayer said.

Between 10,000 and 20,000 pedestrians and cyclists cross the Peace Bridge each year. Most make the journey in the summer months, especially on long weekends.

Mayer said many American cyclist like to cross the bridge and ride the Niagara Parkway.

On the Buffalo side there is the Riverwalk Trail, but it has some sections that have not been completed.

The 10-foot paths will be divided in half, with pedestrians using one side and cyclists the other. The paths will be raised above the bridge to protect people from vehicles that may wander from the roadway.