The City of Victoria came one step further to replacing the Johnson Street Bridge on Friday, with the official start of construction on the $92.8-million project.
The new lift bridge – soon to be the largest of its kind in Canada – is purported to create 900 jobs and generate $500 million in local economic development. It features on-road bike lanes, a multi-use trail, and a pedestrian pathway and is designed to withstand an 8.5 magnitude earthquake.
“This is an exciting day in the City of Victoria,” said Mayor Dean Fortin.
The area near the existing Johnson Street Bridge is now an active construction site. The public can expect to see more crews and equipment arriving over the coming weeks. A temporary trestle will soon be built on the north east side of the bridge to support the cranes and equipment needed.
The current bridge will remain open to pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and marine traffic until the new bridge opens to traffic in late 2015.