Pedestrian and bike bridge proposed for False Creek

Mayor Gregor Robertson is supporting a proposal to build a bike and pedestrian bridge across False Creek at a cost of $45 million.

The proposed 15-metre-wide suspension bridge would cross the entrance to False Creek just west of Burrard Street, linking Kitsilano at Vanier Park with the West End at Sunset Beach.

Architect Gregory Henriquez presented the plan to the mayor after the two talked about the idea a few months ago.

The proposed span was "very elegant and modern," according to Robertson, who compared it to the popular pedestrian-only Millennium Bridge that crosses the Thames River in London.

"It's an infrastructure project and these kinds of bridges have actually been quite positive economic generators in London and Paris and we would be among the leading cities in North America to do something like this," said Robertson on Thursday night after theproposal was publicly released.

Taxpayers could vote on the idea during a referendum in the next civic election, said Robertson, who is also hoping the federal and provincial governments will help with funding.

"It could be a business venture all of its own in terms of the money side of it. In terms of the long-term solutions we do have to have a long-term safe and good crossing of False Creek," said Robertson.

Changes already underway on Burrard Bridge

The proposal comesjust days before the city closes one lane on the Burrard Bridge to car traffic to create a bike lane as part of trial project.

Coun. Suzanne Anton says drivers are already firing off angry emails to council about the changes on the Burrard Bridge. She saysthe new bridge proposal is the mayor's way of diverting attention from the controversial bike lane trial.

"The idea of a totally separate crossing has, of course, been around for quite some time and it's one that I propose once in a while. The trouble with it though, is that it is a very costly solution," said Anton.

Thecouncilloralso said she questions the accuracy of the $45-million price tag for the new bridge, saying it would be at least double that. She said she still believes the best idea is to widen the sidewalks on the existing Burrard Bridge.