Peace Bridge OMFG
Correct me if I’m wrong. All of this happened several years before I moved here or cared.
When Peace Bridge expansion plans first began, it was going to be a second, almost identical steel span. Planning to double bridge capacity began in 1992 and was to start construction in 1999. Many people wanted a signature bridge, so a suit was filed to block the steel expansion based on the fact that environmental impact studies hadn’t been completed.
It’s now almost 10 years later. A signature span designed by Christian Menn has been selected, and environmental studies have been conducted.
In the mother of all ironies, the chosen signature span has been eliminated from contention due to environmental concerns. (.pdf). By the Federal Highway Administration. The common tern might have issues getting up and over and around the high pillars, and the silvery emerald shiner may be confused getting around the bases of the bridge. Also, note that the silvery emerald shiner is better known to the common tern as “food”.
Evidently, there was no modification that could be made to the cable-stayed design that wouldn’t adversely affect the In its stead, the Peace Bridge Authority is moving forward with the second-choice design. This was designed by Figg Engineering:
Look. I like it alright. It’s modern, yet evokes the profile of the current bridge. Peace Bridge second span 2030!
hank Says:April 24th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Good Commentary Alan. I think you only got one thing wrong.
2030 is when the environmental studies, preservationist lawsuits, and funding bill vetos will end, and then there will be another 10 years pass before construction actually starts, when most of the people reading this will have restrictions for glasses and handicap stickers on their cars.
Jim Ostrowski Says:April 24th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Once again, strangers from distant capitals screw Buffalo.
Jefferson wanted self-government at the ward and town levels and he was right.
Eez Says:April 24th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Agreed…great commentary, BP. What exactly is wrong with Plan B? I like it better than the fish-killing one. Whatever they decide, just get the thing built…I’m sick of hearing about it. They’ve been throwing this around since I was in high school….and I’m now 34.
Mike In WNY Says:April 24th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I also like plan B, better than plan A. It is graceful, the visual aspect flows naturally and it fits the surrounding terrain better.
Greg Says:April 24th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Those cables aren’t tiny hard to see pieces of fishing line or something, they’re thick steel cables. Birds that can spot fish while flying over the water will have no issue seeing and avoiding them.
Buffalo is a joke Says:April 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I wonder how many birds fly into the windmills along the shores of Lake Erie.
If you light the bridge; the birds won’t fly into it.
Just like in Boston…Charleston…Tampa… and so on.
But of course, the PBA stuck with the plan that was hatched in 1992 and said FU to the public.
And you wonder why people get fed up with WNY and leave?
Buffalo: No leadership - No balls – 100% Corrupt
starbuck Says:April 24th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I agree with Mike and Eez that the second choice looks better than the first.
Some cable style bridges look great, but something about this one just never looked right to me. Granted it’s hard to know from drawings but maybe it’s those white (bird-confusing) tall things, or maybe it just doesn’t seem to fit in with the surroundings.
Not saying the second choice is the best of everything that was considered year ago - no idea about that, but between these two choices I’d have voted for it. Sometimes a simpler design that fits in with what’s around it can look much better than something that looks like it’s trying too hard to make a statement.
steve Says:April 24th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I’m sorry, but I must protest…Why was only the common tern surveyed for its opinion. What about the oft-overlooked uncommon terns? And, sure, show concern for the silvery emerald shiner. But what of the poor cubic zirconia shiner? Are their opinions not to be considered?
Get my lawyer on the phone…this is a travesty! Surely another 15 years is not too long to wait in order to get this right.
frieda Says:April 24th, 2008 at 10:42 am
The original lawsuit had nothing to do with the design of the bridge. It was filed beacuse the original EIS did not include the associated Truck Plaza and its impact on the surrounding neighborhood. The Menn design is out of character with The setting, and The design has become all too common. There is one in Boston, one in Bangkok, and we are still only in the ‘B’s’. LESS IS MORE.
Mike Says:April 24th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Buffalo is a joke, I dont think any birds get killed by those windmills, in fact the windmills have yet to go online I think they are just there for decorations. But really do we need a new bridge? Whats it going to be used for a parking lot? A big new bridge with 2 booth’s open, they just need to add some agents open more lanes and problem solved. And Hank dont your lips get sore from kissing so much butt?
Buffalo Rox Says:April 24th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I agree with Mike from WNY that it is graceful. It also serves as a modern contrast to the original steel truss bridge. Most importantly, the Menn designed span was not the signature bridge advocated by the people who held the design selection. As Frieda points out, the Charlestown-Bunker Hill-Leonard Zakim Bridge in Boston uses a similar design. So does a bridge in Delaware. Let’s get over the notion that the Menn design is a signature bridge and move forward with building the Figg designed bridge.
Shawn Micallef Says:April 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
There may not be cars around in 2030. Maybe it can be converted to bikes and electric trains.
Ward Says:April 24th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
The obvious solution is to eliminate the offending bird. Hire twenty-five twelve year old boys, arm them with slingshots, line them up on the Bird Island Riverwalk, and let them leave no tern un-stoned.
Prodigal Son Says:April 24th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Okay, I don’t get it, so someone please explain it to me.
How is it that this same “singature” cable-bridge can be built in Boston, and other places, but only here birds would run into it? Are birds smarter in Boston? It was federal bureaucrats that killed this, not inept Buffalo politicians. Are the environmental-loving people of San Francisco just lucky the golden gate bridge got built before exhaustive (and exhausting) environmental reviews?
I can deal with either bridge being built. They both look fine to me. I might even accept that the cable bridge is bad for birds. But there are birds in Boston. Why is it okat to build this bridge there, and not here?
jen Says:April 24th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Good one Ward!
This whole thing is so effing ridiculous, it makes the whole area look so pathetic. I doubt a bridge, any bridge, will “magically” improve WNY, but I, like many, are just so freaking sick of hearing about it!
Timothy Domst Says:April 24th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I hate the pointy bridge, it looks like something “futuristic” from Walt Disney in the 50s. think the only thing wrong with the present bridge is the bump over the canal, they should put a couple of the Figg bridge supports on the old bridge to get rid of the bump, then figure out if they are going to keep all the booths open before they even build a new one, because the bottleneck is always the booths.
Timothy Domst Says:April 24th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I meant to say “I think the only thing wrong etc.”
hank Says:April 25th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I nominate Mike for WNY Fucktard of the year.
Jim Ostrowski Says:April 25th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Since the Canadians built their plaza, they have no traffic problems. My gut feeling is we do not need a bridge at all. Just more inspectors with less paranoia about gramma being a terrist. Use the money to take down the Skyway. Not only is it noisy at the Canal Zone but also at Times beach–incredibly noisy. Must go.
Rob Says:June 20th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Supid enviromentalist and the se gul like birds should shut their mouths, Buffalo takes 1 step forward tand they put us 2 steps back. The birds will adapt and go a different way, get over it.