Fredericton councillors get glimpse at what long-awaited pedway could look like

After more than a decade of discussion — some fuelled by the death of a pedestrian — Fredericton city councillors have finally gotten a glimpse of what a long-awaited pedestrian crossing could look like.

City staff presented concept images to the city's mobility committee recently, showing the potential design for the pedway, which would connect the Skyline Acres neighbourhood to College Hill by passing over Route 8.

But while the ball appears to be rolling on a design for the structure, a timeline for construction, and the price tag, remain up in the air.

"I think initially we were looking at four or five million dollars. That's probably grown up to seven, it might be $10 [million] before it's done," said Coun. Greg Ericson, who represents Skyline Acres.

The construction of a pedestrian overpass on Route 8 has been an aspiration by the city at least as far back as 1991, according to the municipal plan from that year.

WATCH | Residents eager for bridge that would deter 'dangerous' highway crossing:

Route 8 — formerly the path of the Trans-Canada Highway — runs between Skyline Acres and College Hill, and has long served as a shortcut for people who commute by foot between those two parts of the city.

In 2006, a 26-year-old University of New Brunswick student died after being hit by a tow truck while crossing the divided highway.

The incident spurred discussion among councillors about the need for the raised crossing, which at the time was estimated to cost $2 million.

Staff engineer Tyson Aubie says a survey by the city found that about 20 to 30 people cross Route 8, on foot, on a typical day. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

Despite sustained calls for its construction by area residents, the city never broke ground on the project, with councillors going only as far as approving a feasibility study for it, in 2021.

The mobility committee was briefed on the early results of that feasibility study on Thursday, with city engineer Tyson Aubie showing 3D renderings of a pedestrian bridge, featuring weathered steel, to match the esthetic of the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.

Aubie said the city earlier considered the feasibility of installing a crosswalk, but found it would be unsafe because of the speed of traffic on that highway.

He said the last surveys by the city found that 20 to 30 people cross the highway every day.

Fredericton city staff showed concept images for what a proposed Skyline Acres pedestrian bridge could look like. (City of Fredericton)

For the next phase of the study, Aubie said the city will update those surveys and approach the University of New Brunswick and the Government of New Brunswick, as the bridge would need to be built on land owned by both.

"And then the next part is funding," Aubie said, after the meeting.

"We would be seeking provincial, federal funding for this kind of project. It is a really big project for the city to undertake, so that funding will be a really, really important part of the success."

Project 'No. 1 on my list', says councillor

Ericson lives in Skyline Acres and said the construction of a pedestrian crossing over Route 8 has been his top priority since he was first elected to council more than a dozen years ago.

"This item has been No. 1on my list for 13 years in a row," he said.

Route 8 cuts between the campus of the University of New Brunswick to the west and the Skyline Acres neighbourhood to the east. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

Ericson said while he's lobbied for the project, the city wanted to first do a wider transportation plan that would consider accessibility needs throughout the city, rather than in just one location.

"We need all the basic transportation planning pieces to rationalize this big spend, because it is going to be a big spend."

Residents hopeful for progress

David Coon, Green Party leader and Fredericton-Lincoln MLA, attended the meeting and said he was pleased by what he saw during the presentation.

"I'm quite encouraged that it's picked up momentum, and it looks like it's something that could come to fruition in the not too distant future," said Coon, who lives in Skyline Acres.

"Right now, it's a very dangerous crossing to try and dash across the highway."

When Stephen MacKay first moved to Skyline Acres in 2001, part of the allure was the city's 1991 plan to build the pedestrian crossing.

Stephen MacKay has been calling on the city to build the pedestrian crossing ever since he moved to Skyline Acres in 2001. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

He moved to the city for a job on the University of New Brunswick campus and figured the project would soon be completed, offering a safe and convenient path to commute to work on foot.

That never happened, prompting him to take the risk many still do today.

"If you just just let your guard down for a minute the potential [for getting hit] is there," MacKay said.

"On a dark night, a rainy night, it's slippery, and if somebody slips it's not a good thing. It's not a good thing at all."