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Additional Bikeways for Bridges

Started by D-Dey65, July 29, 2022, 12:35:54 AM

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D-Dey65

On a couple of posts, I recommended that the two main bridges that carry the northern section of Florida SR 115 should either be widened to accommodate separate bike lanes protected by dividers, or flanked with new bridges alongside them meant just for bikes and pedestrians, 

This has made me think of one other bridge that could probably use bikeway extensions: The US 17 Bridge over the St. Mary's River between Florida and Georgia.




The question is, how should it be done? Should it be added to the existing structure on the other side of the concrete railing along the bridge, or should it be two different bikeways flanked along the sides?




andarcondadont

I propose one of two extremes: :sombrero:
- Convert the existing bridge such that there is a single lane for vehicular traffic, and the other half of the bridge is dedicated for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Convert the existing bridge into a one exclusively for pedestrians and bicyclists, and construct a new vehicular bridge alongside the existing one.

Computer Science and GIS student at the University of Minnesota.

D-Dey65

Quote from: andarcondadont on August 01, 2022, 11:53:14 AMI propose one of two extremes: :sombrero:
- Convert the existing bridge such that there is a single lane for vehicular traffic, and the other half of the bridge is dedicated for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Convert the existing bridge into a one exclusively for pedestrians and bicyclists, and construct a new vehicular bridge alongside the existing one.
The second choice sounds better. The only question is, which side should the new bridge be on. Whatever the answer to that question is, it should be painted the same shade of blue as the current bridge.


D-Dey65

I just saw a video about the St. Mary's Railroad. What does that have to do with this bridge, you ask? It mentions how the St. Mary's connects to the First Coast Railroad (formerly the CSX Kingsland Subdivision) and crosses the river to get to Florida. When it shows that bridge, it also shows the US 17 bridge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB54EC3u6uk
Therefore, I've decided that the new bridge should be on the east side of the old bridge. But as they're constructing the new one, they should have a temporary realignment of the northbound lane of US 17 along the east side of the southern embankment for the approach to the new bridge. This realigned section should run under the new bridge before reaching the old one. Once the new bridge is finished, that temporary realignment should be converted into the northbound bikeway along US 17.

I haven't decided how I want the temporary detours to be set up on the Georgia side. It could be something similar, who knows?




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