A pedestrian bridge that crosses over the Trans-Canada Highway increases safety and achieves the goal of a walkable community

Highway 11/17 Pedestrian Bridge

Traveling to school by foot should be a safe and easy experience. But what if your commute crossed the Trans-Canada Highway? Safety concerns led the Ministry of Transportation to find a safer way to move foot traffic from the Frost Street area to Chippewa Street.

We completed the preliminary design and environmental assessment to develop a pedestrian only or a combined pedestrian/vehicle crossing. The study included identification and evaluation of potential crossing types and locations, review of pedestrian travel patterns in the area, and development of alternative bridge locations and configurations. Two public information centers were held to help the local community understand the options and have a say in the option that made the made sense.

The bridge connects residential areas on both sides of Highway 11/17 with its south approach touching down directly adjacent to a school. It is fully enclosed to promote use during the winter months. The fully lit bridge is an inviting structure for pedestrians and cyclists and was designed to allow relocation to a future new highway alignment—to top it off, it functions as a landmark indicating arrival into the City of North Bay.