A local community group has come up with at least one option for pedestrians to cross the North Saskatchewan River once the Cloverdale footbridge closes: a ferry.
When the popular bridge closes in July, the next closest river crossing will be just less than a kilometre away, leaving pedestrians to take a long detour to get across.
“Walking all the way down to the Low Level Bridge, and crossing there, and then trying to get up the hill on the stairs that are currently closed because of the funicular project,” Paul Bunner, co-chair of the LRT Liaison Committee said.
Bunner says a water craft to ferry pedestrians across the river might be an option.
“A small, simple, flatbed ferry with a small motor on it that could putter back and forth across the river,” Bunner said.
The area around the footbridge is popular for foot traffic in the river valley, and the proposed ferry would cross from Rafter’s Landing, to the summer dock.
The committee has been pitching the plan to City Council for years, they said – and it’s hoped the plan will be given the green light, although some details need to be worked out.
“For the ferry or water taxi to exist here, the water would have to be controlled somehow,” Retired Fire Captain Chuck Polturak said. “Other major cities with water taxis have a little bit of control.”
However, Bunner says the timing for such a plan couldn’t be better, as the Edmonton Queen is up for auction.
“This is the chance for the city to do a pilot project, people would appreciate it, people would really enjoy having the experience of being on the water,” Bunner said.
The Cloverdale footbridge is scheduled to close in July.
With files from Frazer Snowdon
