WILD ROAD CONCEPT TO SHAKE DOWNTOWN ALIVE!

[Ocklawaha]

A build it and they will come, cure to the doldrums of downtown? Maybe so. Just standing at the foot of Randolph looking at the river and using the imagination a bit. Imagine the JEA lot split into 3... count em, 3 large tracts with light rail and freeway access. Something like the new acosta, but a classic. Spend the extra to make this a landmark bridge. Bridge of the Lions, Grand Avenue, Glendale Blvd (CA) etc... Perhaps a combination arch and hyperion, maybe a bit taller then the Acosta with a 10-12% grade. 6 lanes, WIDE bike and pedestrian lanes and 2 streetcar tracks down the middle.


Something classic like a gateway or arch, guard towers, entrys


Maybe? Burnside bridge Portland...


Could be in lane or have it's own line. Toronto...


Glendale California, also carried streetcars and interurbans.


Bridge of the Lions before the State took it's beauty.



Here is the "WHERE" and shows the possible surface streets and flyover connectors. However, at the Southbank foot of this bridge, I'd suggest a large traffic island, very pedestrian friendly with the freeway flyovers starting several 100 feet away from the Prudential interchange.


The original Ortega Bridge with an ORIGINAL Ortega Traction Interurban car onboard.


Ahhh, This is it. 6 lanes, broad walks and streetcar in it's own lanes. Just for the curious, those black strips down each lane are 4' 8.5" apart...Standard gauge, gee wonder whats under that pavement?

Oh I know, just a dream, but what do y'all think? ...and if I'm ever "King of JTA"? "There goes another one..."

OCKLAWAHA

[Jason]

Now that is thinking out of the box!  Another bridge would be cool but can the Acosta or Main Street be retrofitted for streetcars instead?

[rjp2008]

Hmm...very ambitious. Long term it could be something. Fits with what PRBlvd re-developers seem to want to do. Interesting because I was just down by PRBlvd this morning.

However, destinations is what draws people, not routes/modes of travel. There needs to be more retail, arts and entertainment development near the Sports district. Finish the retail-oriented Shipyards first and see what response that gets.




   

[Ocklawaha]

Jason, That's a maybe at best, it HAS been done, but it would depend on many factors. The main sticking point would be the rail or guideway themselves, if you bolt them to the current pavement then you must raise the pavement to match or close the lane. Closing the lane would probably be okay on a rebuilt Main Street Bridge as they want to redo the ramps. Adding pavement thickness gets nasty with weight issues.

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

rip I partly agree with you and understand what you are saying. Of course the "RANDOLPH DISTRICT" would take flight if this project was ever done. In fact it would light up both sides of the river. The fact is, except for the flyover to the base (SOUTH END) intersection with Prudential, this is a surface street, designed to carry people, streetcars, bikes, buses, and cars over the river. All of our other bridges have been ramped to carry traffic out of town or over town, this is to get people downtown, where the city and the sports happen.

OCKLAWAHA

[Jason]

Jason, That's a maybe at best, it HAS been done, but it would depend on many factors. The main sticking point would be the rail or guideway themselves, if you bolt them to the current pavement then you must raise the pavement to match or close the lane. Closing the lane would probably be okay on a rebuilt Main Street Bridge as they want to redo the ramps. Adding pavement thickness gets nasty with weight issues.

OCKLAWAHA

Are there other materials that could be used to raise the roadway other than concrete?

[Ocklawaha]

Yes, Jason, but they all have trade off's. That is where it becomes an engineers job and a real science. Stuff like plastics but durability, surface traction, weight ratios, wear, weather... the list is eternal. Something PERFECT for the sunny day might cause car wrecks in foul weather. etc

OCKLAWAHA