A southeast vehicle bridge crossing the Bow River has topped a list of goals outlined by a group of residents from the communities of Riversong, Riviera and The Willows.
“We’re supposed to be a part of the community,” said Kelly Plourde, president of the community group. “All we’re looking for is to have better connectivity to Cochrane.”
The proposed Cochrane River Heights Community Association formed in November and is waiting for provincial approval to become an official society. The group isn’t wasting time though. By January the group elected officials and drew up a list of priorities.
For Plourde, the Town of Cochrane’s promise of another route accessing the community north of the Bow River was one of the reasons her family chose to purchase a home in the community of Riversong. Four years later, she said she’s still waiting for the bridge.
A press release from the organization estimated some residents are logging a round trip of 18-24 kilometres to access the historic downtown or the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
“I hear complaints from community members all the time,” Plourde remarked. “They don’t want to fight the traffic congestion along Highway 22 just to access their community.”
Plourde said the proposed association hopes to present its concerns to council this month.
But the town hasn’t forgotten about the bridge, said Paige Milner, senior manager of corporate services. The 2014 budget has allocated $250,000 for the Bow River Bridge project.
This funding will be put towards the next phase of the project, which includes preliminary design work, legal surveys of road plans and possible land acquisition. Already work has been completed to determine the alignment of the crossing and future roadways.
According to the Town of Cochrane’s 10-year Financial Strategy (2013-2022), the Bow River Bridge Crossing has a tentative timeline of 2019. This year’s budget bumps that time back, anticipating the bridge to be completed by 2018.
The project is anticipated to cost nearly $18 million.
Along with its concerns about the vehicle bridge, the community group has outlined two other major priorities: the completion of the gravel-haul road, and a crosswalk in front of Bow Valley High School.
