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Traffic Services

Macdonald Bridge Access

A number of ideas for alternative ways to link the new bridge bikeway and the HRM street system were received from HRM staff, cyclists and members of the public. Some of the suggestions would require alterations to the bridge approach areas, and others maintain the existing design geometry while recommending access improvements. We undertake to address the potentially harmonious themes of safety and convenience in discussing these ideas. If the identified limitations of these ideas can be dealt with in further studies and testing, it may be possible to employ desired alternatives in combination, enhancing the well being of pedestrians, wheelchair users, cyclists and motorists.

• Zig-Zag
• Sideswitch
• Foot Bridge
• Multi use Paths
• Bikrway Extension
• Landscaped area options
• On Ramp Shoulder
• Bike Flyover

The primary factor in the bridge area is the location of the bikeway on the bridge and the difficulties involved for cyclists directly accessing North Street and Brunswick Street by crossing North Street. The primary safety consideration is to avoid as much as possible any design treatment involving cyclist turning or crossing movements in westbound or eastbound automobile traffic at the bridge access point.

Safety has been an important theme of this study. Our desire is to anticipate situations potentially dangerous to cyclists approaching or exiting the bridge bikeway. One such circumstance exists at the bridge off-ramp loop. Cyclists may want to find the shortest means from the bikeway to North Street for travel west or to connect to the Brunswick Street route. Some may attempt to climb over the existing barrier fence as a shortcut to North Street.

The Bridge bikeway is currently a two-way path located on a cantilevered structure on the north side of the bridge roadway. Access to and from the bikeway will run parallel to the North Street Annex exit ramp for southbound Barrington Street traffic.

The bikeway ramp was designed with a cyclist dismount area located on the bridge ramp underpass. Cyclists are expected to dismount and proceed on foot to the Barrington Street intersection crossing at the North Street extension. The design calls for cyclists to remount and continue along Barrington and proceed up Artz Street to the Brunswick Street cycle route.

This has several problems associated with it. Cyclists are expected to remount and merge with southbound Barrington traffic after crossing the North Street annex or walk to Artz Street to remount and access Brunswick Street. Cyclists turning into southbound traffic may pose a safety problem especially during peak time periods.

Cyclists exiting on to Barrington Street from the northbound direction on Brunswick Street via Artz Street would have to cross Barrington southbound traffic twice to gain access to the dismount area at the North Street extension. The alternative is to walk from Artz Street to the Bridge underpass mounting area before proceeding to the bridge bikeway.