Final Recommendations to Make Aurora Safer and Keep It Moving
Problem
- High number of accidents and a potential for severe accidents
- 33 accidents occurred on the Aurora Bridge with one fatality*
- Traffic congestion
*Accident data 1999-2001
The Aurora Bridge is over 50 years old, and therefore, wasn't built to modern design standards: |
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It has the following deficiencies:
- Narrow (9.5 feet) lanes -Buses and other large vehicles crossing the bridge often straddle two of the narrow lanes
- No median barrier
- No barrier separating the roadway and sidewalk
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Aurora Bridge Circa 1930
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Recommendations: |
- Widen the existing lanes on the bridge to 11 feet for the center lane and 11.5 feet for the inside and curb lane (estimated cost $29 million)
- Add a median barrier
- Widen and relocate pedestrian facilities under the bridge
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Aurora Bridge 2002
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Benefits of Improvements: |
- Reduced accident potential for vehicular accidents
- Increased vehicular mobility
- Reduced accident potential for pedestrian/vehicle accidents
- Increased pedestrian mobility.
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Proposed Enhancements
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Other Alternatives Considered:
Several options were considered for the Aurora Bridge. The following alternatives were eliminated because the bridge is at its maximum load.
- Sidewalks at roadway level on both sides
- Sidewalks at roadway level on one side
- Additional through or merge lanes.
To accomodate wide lanes and sidewalks on the bridge deck a new bridge would need to be constructed. A new bridge was estimated to cost $200 million and was therefore excluded from further discussion.