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1. •  
     CommentAuthorStBPegger
   • CommentTimeMay 23rd 2008

    
   hey cbot - is your councillor Gerbasi? I figure she should be in the loop, as I'd think she'd be most supportive of the idea (being the closest to green on council).
2. • CommentAuthorDeanK
   • CommentTimeMay 23rd 2008

    
   I dont think Gerbasi actually knows what green really is.
3. •  
     CommentAuthorStBPegger
   • CommentTimeMay 23rd 2008

    
   <blockquote><cite>Posted By: DeanK</cite>I dont think Gerbasi actually knows what green really is.</blockquote>I'm comparing to the rest of the lot.
4. • CommentAuthorDeanK
   • CommentTimeMay 23rd 2008

    
   ahh.. well maybe then
5. •  
     CommentAuthorcancelbot
   • CommentTimeMay 23rd 2008

    
   Moderator

   Posted By: StBPeggerhey cbot - is your councillor Gerbasi? I figure she should be in the loop, as I'd think she'd be most supportive of the idea (being the closest to green on council).

   
   
   Yep, it's her.

   Thankful People: StBPegger
6. •  
     CommentAuthorStBPegger
   • CommentTimeMay 26th 2008

    
   Council is formally asking the province for money so they can have a 6-lane bridge.
   
   http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/story/4178145p-4767342c.html
   
   In what amounts to a slap in the face to Mayor Sam Katz and most members of his cabinet, the public works committee voted 3-1 to petition Doer for the cash, which could be as much as $350 million.
   
   Elwood Coun. Lillian Thomas, North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty and Mynarski Coun. Harry Lazarenko voted in favour of the largely symbolic move, which is bound to be turned aside when it comes before council’s executive policy committee next week.
   
   Public works chairman Bill Clement voted against it, noting the six-lane replacement bridge is not in Winnipeg’s capital budget and claiming other projects would have to be cancelled if the scope of the Disraeli repairs was to be widened.
7. • CommentAuthorDeanK
   • CommentTimeMay 26th 2008

    
   So.. if the scope of the bridge were increased.... but all the money for that scope came from somewhere else... why again would it cancell other projects?
8. •  
     CommentAuthorsmjpilot
   • CommentTimeMay 26th 2008 edited

    
   Some kind of cash-match scheme that would still see the city paying more than a 4 lane renewal?<br><br>
   I don't see the harm in asking, but the report states Doer would not approve the request without an engineers report. So more city money would have to be spent on a report just to request the money from the province....
9. •  
     CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
   • CommentTimeMay 26th 2008

    
   <blockquote><cite>Posted By: StBPegger</cite>Public works chairman Bill Clement voted against it, noting the six-lane replacement bridge is not in Winnipeg’s capital budget and claiming other projects would have to be cancelled if the scope of the Disraeli repairs was to be widened.</blockquote>Here is how I read this: We don't have the cash to do a project properly, but we have enough cash to do several projects poorly. Or. Let's think only of our needs today and bugger the needs of tomorrow.
   
   Any wonder our infrastructure is as it is today?
   
   Do it right or go home.

   Thankful People: northender, MasterofChant
10. • CommentAuthornorthender
    • CommentTimeMay 26th 2008

     
    That is so true. Unless of course it is a capital project for C'wood ;)
11. •  
      CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008 edited

     
    More debate on this bridge...
    
    From the Winnipeg Sun
    
    The province's most vocal proponent of a six-lane Disraeli Overpass says a high-tech bridge now under construction in Minneapolis is proof city hall's estimates on an expanded bridge are over-inflated. The City of Winnipeg's public works director, however, says that's not a fair comparison and stands by the city's numbers.
    
    The I-35W bridge that crosses the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed Aug. 1, 2007. Its replacement is set to open in a month or two at a cost of US $234 million. That bridge will have five lanes of traffic in each direction, plus two more each way for rapid transit use.
    
    Fourteen lanes of traffic for $234 million versus 4 lanes of traffic for $125 - $160 million. Remember the I-35 bridge is a bridge that didn't have the benefit of long term planning and was contracted at the last minute.
    
    And even if the Disraeli is twice the length... Something just does not seem right here. This bridge needs to be six lanes wide. If the demand is 20 years away will we add the additional capacity then? At what cost? Sammy, give this some extra thought.
12. •  
      CommentAuthorcancelbot
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008

     
    Moderator
    At first I thought six lanes was overkill, but on second thought, it might make sense. Given how busy of a transit corridor Henderson Hwy is, 2 lanes plus a diamond lane each way would probably be a pretty good solution... the cost is rather steep, though...an extra $100M for two lanes? Seems out of whack to me.
13. • CommentAuthorDeanK
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008

     
    our work force makes more money in the construction industry I thought? would that explain a huge chunk of the cost difference?
14. •  
      CommentAuthorMR_Point
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008

     
    aww the us does not have a laybor crunch and cost of materials skyrocketing like here...
15. •  
      CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008

     
    Materials, my dear friend Mr_Point, will be comparable. Especially when we are talking about 500 miles... Else take advantage of NAFTA and order the materials from Minneapolis.
    
    Can't comment on labour. But could it really be much different?
16. •  
      CommentAuthorStBPegger
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008

     
    I would think the same re: labour, where their economy is in the tank (not too sure about Minn specifically) and therefore construction costs should be lower.
17. •  
      CommentAuthorMR_Point
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008

     
    we have a masive labor shortage in this country though as the boom in alberta cools costs will begin to level out and maybe drop a bit but how the hell do u order concreat from miniapolis? and even with nafta u still gota bring the goods across the boarded and duties will be charged....
18. •  
      CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008 edited

     
    No my dear friend. Under NAFTA if something was produced in NA it is duty free. Taxes are moot though so don't consider them. What are the ingredients in concrete? Or order concrete from Fargo or Grand Forks. How do ya suppose they get concrete to remote spots like, oh, a hydro facility in the geezly north?
    
    Gotta think creatively. Outside the box thinking. Whatever the costs for materials can't be a MAJOR difference.
19. •  
      CommentAuthorMR_Point
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008 edited

     
    aww
    yea well when you cry nafta at the border it get laughed at so bleh
    
    try bring in more then 20$ worth of dary products like cheese...
20. •  
      CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
    • CommentTimeAug 25th 2008

     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: MR_Point</cite>bleh</blockquote>So does not count then?