Footbridge would link growing northeast Edmonton neighbourhoods to shops, councillor says

A city councillor says building a footbridge across Manning Drive, a major arterial road in northeast Edmonton, would connect pedestrians in growing neighbourhoods nearby to the shops and amenities at Manning Town Centre. 

Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette says residents have been calling and emailing his office for three years about the idea. The road runs through his district.

"It's almost impossible to get across this sort of river of cars in a safe way without jaywalking," he said.

The shopping area contains more than 50 businesses, including a movie theatre and a grocery store, according to Manning Town Centre's website.

Currently, pedestrians can only reach the shopping centre on foot by crossing the freeway at 153rd Avenue.

Vehicles can exit the Brintnell neighbourhood at 160th Avenue and enter the shopping centre at 158th Avenue, but there is no pedestrian access nearby. A multi-use path that runs through Brintnell ends abruptly at 160th Avenue, just west of the busy road.

Paquette said people often illegally cross the busy road on foot, rather than detour down to 153rd Avenue. 

"If we can find a way that doesn't interrupt vehicle flow, doesn't make people try to rush across a busy street, that might be the best solution," he said. 

Paquette introduced a motion during last week's executive committee meeting, asking city administration to find out how much a feasibility study for a bridge would cost. The motion passed unanimously. 

City councillors could decide in the fall whether to fund the feasibility study. 

Several residents told CBC News they support the idea.

Jennifer Kovacs and her daughter, Alyssa, who were shopping at Manning Town Centre Friday morning, said the bridge could help people who don't drive access the area.

"It would bring in more business and revenue for the surrounding community," Jennifer Kovacs said.

Jordan Fleury, another shopper, said the bridge would make sense if the density of the nearby neighbourhoods justify it.

He said he has seen pedestrian bridges work well in other parts of the world.

"As long as there's a good budget, they get good contracts, source the work properly and do a good job that way, that's all that I care about," he said.

Paquette said a bridge could cost upward of $10 million, but local developers might be willing to chip in.

He said he reached out to some and immediately received positive responses and heard concerns about ensuring safe crossings.