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RTA proposed $3.5m footbridge over Spit Road - but have you seen the design??

30/7/2011

I attended RTA public meeting on Thursday to view the proposed pedestrian footbridge to be erected at The Spit for $3.5m. Of the Manly residents present, none of us had been aware of this proposal previously and were totally against it. The majority of the others from Mosman were also totally against the idea.
Based on RTA data, removal of the pedestrian crossing would save 32 seconds per traffic light cycle of 180 sec, if the average 90 pedestrians who
used it during peak hour (6am-10am M-F) went over the proposed footbridge instead of using the crossing.

Let's be clear here. They are talking about removing the pedestrian crossing completely and providing a footbridge OVER the road as the only safe means of crossing the road. (The structure will have a lift for those with prams or disabilities and of course cyclist are also expected to use it.) Get the details full details here.
This area is the 'gateway' to Manly and the Northern Beaches and yet it is to have one of our most beautiful, natural entrances blocked by a structure that anyone with common sense will soon ascertain will not be used. During peak times, the traffic is hardly moving anyway to why not just duck between the cars? And as for the weekends - yikes, it's an accident just waiting to happen. Please take a moment to look at the bulk of this footbridge. While I give 10/10 to the bridge designers who have done their best to try to 'blend' it with the natural surroundings, can't we please review this decision now that we have a new State Government and see if it really is such a good idea after all?
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2 Comments

Cathy Griffin

31/7/2011 12:15:01 pm

Candy, So you werent consulted about this. Below is the Submission that Manly Council sent at the time the RTA was going throught the community consultation period back in June 2010. When the concept was presented to Councillors prioir to a council meeting I was the only one who didnt support the overpass. So I guess what the RTA is proposing now is a result of the community consultation.

Manly Council
Submission on the Proposed Pedestrian Bridge at The Spit, Mosman.

Manly Council appreciates the opportunity to comment on the two options for the proposed pedestrian bridge at The Spit. While the Council appreciates that the proposal seeks to improve road safety and access at The Spit, it also aims to improve traffic flow and speed, and provide additional car parking. The two options, namely the steel box girder design and through truss design, will have a significant impact on the visual amenity of The Spit and the character of the locality will be significantly impacted. These issues are discussed below, and the Council requests the Roads & Traffic Authority to take these matters into consideration in making a decision on the proposal.
Statutory Controls:
The Spit is an important landmark on Middle Harbour, being one of the very few locations where a narrow sand isthmus provides for easy water access. The narrow channel at this point also makes the location preferred for a harbour crossing, and the existing Spit road and pedestrian bridge is listed as an item of environmental heritage under deemed SEPP-Sydney Regional Environmental Plan (Sydney Harbour Catchment) – 2005 which has provisions governing the land-water interface.
The Sydney Harbour Foreshores and Waterways Area Development Control Plan 2005, identifies a number of Landscape Character (LC) types which are relevant to the proposed development. The western side is classed as LC 9 and the intent is to retain the natural features of the shoreline and only encourage development that is consistent with the scale, design and siting of the existing development. The eastern side of The Spit is classed as LC 1, and the predominance of the natural shoreline is retained, despite the presence of urban development comprising boat sheds, club houses and cafes. The cumulative and incremental effect of structures along the foreshores is required to be considered in respect of development proposals, and colours should be drawn from the natural elements such as tree trunks and sandstone which occur in the location. The areas north of the proposed pedestrian bridge are classed as LC 5. Natural shoreline features and views should be maintained and development should complement the maritime character of the area.
The Spit is zoned predominantly Public Recreation 6 (a) under Mosman Local Environmental Plan (LEP), with existing businesses zoned Business. Under draft Mosman LEP Spit Road is zoned SP 2 Infrastructure and the adjoining land is zoned variously Public Recreation or Private Recreation. On the northern side of the Spit Bridge across Middle Harbour the adjacent land in Manly local government area is predominantly zoned Open Space 6(a), and comprises important bushland corridors, passive open space; and zoned for Residential on the western side. The Harbour foreshore in Manly is also an item of environmental heritage.
Review of Options.
The two options have been assessed in terms of their design and construction, materials, and their potential impacts. It is assumed that the structure would be kept to the minimum height required to reduce its potential visual impact.
Based on the actual experience of the Ashfield and Pyrmont structures it seems that the footway of the Pyrmont Bridge (steel box girder type bridge) is marginally lower by at least 1500 mm than the Ashfield bridge (steel truss bridge). This may be due to the fact that the Ashfield Bridge has a lower substructure that means that the bridge footway has to be lifted up to compensate for this. If a bridge of the Pyrmont height is achievable only when the structural solution it utilises is used, then this is preferable over a higher bridge in the ‘steel box girder’ arrangement. If this type of bridge, the ‘steel box girder,’ can be kept as low as the Pyrmont bridge then this would be preferred.
The Ashfield overpass bridge has incorporated very large concrete blade walls at each end of the bridge supporting the stairs along with associated full masonry and rendered lift structures. This treatment is not considered appropriate in The Spit proposal where the greatest level of structural transparency is critical to any success of such a structure in this location. Based however on the comments made by Richard Mc Hennery the RTA Project Development Manager today regarding the nature of the proposed bridge, it seems that it is the RTA’s intention to maximise the use of glass and open framed structure in the supporting elements and lift car comp

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RTA proposed $3.5m footbridge over Spit Road - but have you seen the design??

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