$20+ million pedestrian bridge to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to be closed for Super Bowl (contractors, transport)

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

The bridge is a great addition.

I really disagree. Aside from the ludicrous cost and stupid curly-q design, I think it's ugly and pretty much pointless. I mean, it's a bridge to cross a road at an intersection! That's what crosswalks and signals are for.

If they absolutely needed something, a pedestrian tunnel from the Vine City station platforms over to the stadium lobby would have been much better.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by primaltech

I really disagree. Aside from the ludicrous cost and stupid curly-q design, I think it's ugly and pretty much pointless. I mean, it's a bridge to cross a road at an intersection! That's what crosswalks and signals are for.

If they absolutely needed something, a pedestrian tunnel from the Vine City station platforms over to the stadium lobby would have been much better.

A tunnel from the end of platform to MBS would not work as that space is occupied by pocket track.

Intersection improvements are cheaper and could have aligned with Northside Dr BRT.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Intersection improvements are cheaper and could have aligned with Northside Dr BRT.

Yeah, I mean just a wide, large red asphalt crossing area, with a BRT station in the median.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by primaltech

I really disagree. Aside from the ludicrous cost and stupid curly-q design, I think it's ugly and pretty much pointless. I mean, it's a bridge to cross a road at an intersection! That's what crosswalks and signals are for.

Keep in mind that the idea is that during game times is when you will see the highest vehicle usage of the road and the highest pedestrian activity in that area, all in one spot. In order to keep both moving at a reasonable pace, having the bridge separates the two and allows both to keep moving, and improves safety dramatically. To stop the packed road in order to let hundreds of people cross at once, will just lead to even more bottlenecked roads and sidewalks.

The bridge should have been just a basic pedestrian bridge, slowly ramping up from the station and meeting the side of the stadium. No curly-qs, no fancy concrete work...just a plain bridge. Serve the purpose...that's it.

But, I do realize that this isn't really about what serves the area better. It's about "this allows car drivers to keep driving and that's bad. We don't get to stop them and make them wait for us!"

Closing it for the Super Bowl is an absolutely idiotic move that only the most braindead of "planners" could come up with.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

Keep in mind that the idea is that during game times is when you will see the highest vehicle usage of the road and the highest pedestrian activity in that area, all in one spot. In order to keep both moving at a reasonable pace, having the bridge separates the two and allows both to keep moving, and improves safety dramatically. To stop the packed road in order to let hundreds of people cross at once, will just lead to even more bottlenecked roads and sidewalks.

The bridge should have been just a basic pedestrian bridge, slowly ramping up from the station and meeting the side of the stadium. No curly-qs, no fancy concrete work...just a plain bridge. Serve the purpose...that's it.

But, I do realize that this isn't really about what serves the area better. It's about "this allows car drivers to keep driving and that's bad. We don't get to stop them and make them wait for us!"

Closing it for the Super Bowl is an absolutely idiotic move that only the most braindead of "planners" could come up with.

You mean Braindead NFL planners, this is not the doing of City of Atlanta.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

The bridge should have been just a basic pedestrian bridge, slowly ramping up from the station and meeting the side of the stadium. No curly-qs, no fancy concrete work...just a plain bridge. Serve the purpose...that's it.

Yeah, if a tunnel wasn't possible then they should have integrated this bridge with the design of MBS, as a small section of the stadium built over Northside Dr (basically a bridge), leading right into Vine City MARTA.

What a complete mess all around. Looks terrible, too.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by cqholt

You mean Braindead NFL planners, this is not the doing of City of Atlanta.

Yes. That is what I mean.

Originally Posted by primaltech

Yeah, if a tunnel wasn't possible then they should have integrated this bridge with the design of MBS, as a small section of the stadium built over Northside Dr (basically a bridge), leading right into Vine City MARTA.

What a complete mess all around. Looks terrible, too.

I haven't been down Northside since the bridge was under construction, as they had various lanes closed for some project in the road as well and it brought the road to a standstill. I'll have togo check it out after the SB hoopla is over.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by cqholt

You mean Braindead NFL planners, this is not the doing of City of Atlanta.

Either the city or the state owns the bridge, they could have told the nfl where to go shove their plans.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Either the city or the state owns the bridge, they could have told the nfl where to go shove their plans.

Then they would have said "no more Super Bowls for you..."

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Either the city or the state owns the bridge, they could have told the nfl where to go shove their plans.

DHS would have overridden the city or state's decision.

The ultimate fault here lies with ex-mayor Kasim Reed and all the city councilmembers who approved the public funding for this bridge TWICE.