Footbridge would link growing northeast Edmonton neighbourhoods to shops, councillor says

Madeleine Cummings · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 23, 2025 9:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

A metropolis councillor says gathering a footbridge crossed Manning Drive, a large arterial roadworthy successful northeast Edmonton, would link pedestrians successful increasing neighbourhoods adjacent to the shops and amenities astatine Manning Town Centre. 

Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette says residents person been calling and emailing his bureau for 3 years astir the idea. The roadworthy runs done his district.

"It's astir intolerable to get crossed this benignant of stream of cars successful a harmless mode without jaywalking," helium said.

The buying country contains much than 50 businesses, including a movie theatre and a market store, according to Manning Town Centre's website.

Currently, pedestrians tin lone scope the buying centre connected ft by crossing the freeway astatine 153rd Avenue.

Vehicles tin exit the Brintnell neighbourhood at 160th Avenue and participate the buying centre astatine 158th Avenue, but determination is nary pedestrian entree nearby. A multi-use way that runs done Brintnell ends abruptly astatine 160th Avenue, conscionable westbound of the engaged road.

Paquette said radical often illegally transverse the engaged roadworthy connected foot, alternatively than detour down to 153rd Avenue. 

"If we tin find a mode that doesn't interrupt conveyance flow, doesn't marque radical effort to unreserved crossed a engaged street, that mightiness beryllium the champion solution," helium said. 

Paquette introduced a question during past week's enforcement committee meeting, asking city administration to find retired however overmuch a feasibility survey for a span would cost. The question passed unanimously. 

City councillors could determine successful the autumn whether to money the feasibility study. 

Several residents told CBC News they enactment the idea.

Jennifer Kovacs and her daughter, Alyssa, who were buying astatine Manning Town Centre Friday morning, said the span could assistance radical who don't thrust entree the area.

"It would bring successful much concern and gross for the surrounding community," Jennifer Kovacs said.

Jordan Fleury, different shopper, said the span would marque consciousness if the density of the adjacent neighbourhoods warrant it.

He said helium has seen pedestrian bridges enactment good successful different parts of the world.

"As agelong arsenic there's a bully budget, they get bully contracts, root the enactment decently and bash a bully occupation that way, that's each that I attraction about," helium said.

Paquette said a span could outgo upward of $10 million, but section developers mightiness beryllium consenting to spot in.

He said helium reached retired to immoderate and instantly received affirmative responses and heard concerns astir ensuring harmless crossings.