Rumblings Over The Blue Bridge

Rumblings are reaching the City of Nanaimo about the plight of the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria. I live in Nanaimo, but for many years I lived on the Saanich Peninsula and in Victoria and still have a very soft spot for Southern Vancouver Island where I visit now and then. During my time in Victoria, for a couple of years I was commuting daily between Esquimalt and downtown Victoria, over the Johnson Street Bridge. It is with these memories that I offer my opinion on the current dilemma.

It appears that the City of Victoria suddenly decided, in April of this year, that it might be a good idea to apply for some of this infrastructure money the Federal Government has hanging around. But they needed an infrastructure to address. What better than the Johnson Street Bridge? Prior to that date the Johnson Street Bridge was not in council’s plans, never mind on the agenda.

In three short months, the City moved at the speed of a bullet; estimates were calculated, tenders went out, consultants hired, designs drawn up and application for funding prepared and finalized. I really would like to see any city, not just Victoria, act with such speed and alacrity because they had found a toy to spend money on.

In the meantime, some concerned citizens became aware of what was going on and decided that they really had to put a spoke in City Council’s wheel, before it could do any more damage. After all, this was a heritage structure under fire – a utilitarian structure but most definitely historical. Quite rightly, this concerned citizen’s group of Victoria wanted to know why Victorians had not been consulted. The City did schedule public input, but only after the investment was approved.

In the meantime, this group worked very hard to bring this venture to the notice of the rest of the Victoria citizenry. Now many more people are talking about the possible fate of this old faithful. Apparently, even the City is having to recognize and accept that Victorians are worried and want to have their say about this monumental plan. So, why not a referendum allowing the public to get on board and make an informed vote?

I am always amazed when people mention to me that England and Europe must be wonderful, historical places with all those buildings hundreds, and some cases, thousands of years old – and we have nothing like that here in Canada. Come on, City Hall, get with it. Would you consider replacing the Empress, or the Parliament Buildings, or Craigdarroch Castle. I think not. Why pick on the Johnson Street Bridge? Oh, I know why, but funding can still be obtained for refurbishing so that the bridge is good for another 40 to 50 years. The dollar difference between refurbishing the Blue Bridge and bringing in the wrecking ball to allow for a new design structure, could be used for more desperately needed infrastructure work in the City of Victoria.

Long live the old bridge.