January 27, 2010

Voters reject loan for new Victoria bridge

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

An attempt by the City of Victoria to borrow millions of dollars to replace an aging bridge was put on hold after residents voted down the shovel-ready project.

A structural assessment of the Johnson Street bridge found the timber foundations at risk of an earthquake, the concrete piers and abutments eroding, extensive corrosion and pack rust, as well as a coating system that has exceeded its expected service life.

Victoria passed a bylaw to borrow $42 million for construction.

However, the plan hit a snag.

“There were a number of different factions involved and we think there were some who want the bridge saved for the high heritage value,” said Victoria’s communications co-ordinator Howard Markson.

“Some were concerned with the amount of money borrowed. There is another group concerned about process because the city did not go straight to a referendum and was moving too quickly to the new bridge.”

Joseph Strauss designed the Johnson Street Bridge in 1924 and used the Strauss Bascule Bridge system to build it.

The bridge is one of a few bascule bridges left in North America.

A referendum or an alternative approval process is needed for long-term borrowing for infrastructure investment in B.C.

Victoria tried the alternative approval process to qualify for accelerated infrastructure funding from the federal government.

The process allows a loan to be blocked if 10 per cent of the eligible voters sign a counter petition. In this case, it would have required a minimum of 6,300 voters.

The process produced 9,872 verified counter signatures.

“So, clearly this vote met and exceeded the 10 per cent threshold,” said Markson.

“If the city wants to proceed on the same borrowing bylaw, they must go to a referendum within 80 days. However, they chose to take a step back from the whole process and will put a question to a referendum. We are not sure right now what that question will be.”

Earlier this month, Victoria City Council passed a motion instructing staff to gather more information related to both replacement and refurbishment options, and to further engage the public.

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