Red Hill to the Lake - New Pedestrian-Cycling connection

It is big money, $8 million, but it is a big job, and it looks to be well done. The structure is comfortable to use as a cyclist or pedestrian, and the lines are bold yet simple. 

Getting non-motorized traffic over the Queen Elizabeth Way to connect the Red Hill Valley trails to the waterfront trail on Lake Ontario required a bold initiative. Thankfully, the province of Ontario came through with the majority of funds to see this project to completion.

There were a surprising number of people using the waterfront trail on a Monday mid-day, where the lake was keeping the air cool, unlike places inland where it was much warmer. 

I suspect the city authorities will be adding trail signage to help direct people to the new bridge. There was still being work done to complete the connecting trails on the far side of the bridge.

Pedestrian bridge updateTHE HAMILTON SPECTATOR

(Aug 18, 2010)

Construction of a pedestrian bridge over the QEW and Red Hill Creek is continuing and is expected to be complete by the end of October.

• The "gateway" bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the QEW will cost $8 million (about $6 million for the span itself). Most of the money came from Ontario government infrastructure funds.
• It's 300 metres long.
• It spans the QEW from the former Brampton Street landfill to the waterfront between Burlington Street and Centennial Parkway.
• It will cost $200,000 to $400,000 a year to maintain.
• It has taken a year to fabricate the steel for it.
• The most recent plan is to paint it red -- in honour of Hamilton steel and the Red Hill Valley's red soil.
• The bridge is a key part of a system of trails intended to compensate for open space lost to the construction of the Red Hill Valley Parkway.
• The trails will one day connect Felker's Falls Conservation area, Paramount Park, Glendale Falls, Albion Falls Park, Mount Albion Conservation Area, the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area and Valley Park. It will link the Beach Recreational Trail and the Bruce Trail through the Red Hill Valley.
• It is also intended to serve as an eastern "signature" gateway entrance to the city