Part of a series of posts by Neil Cownie on The Future of Swanbourne Village

From this diagram, central to the ‘Swanbourne Village’ is the existing bridge and the railway station. Businesses exist to both sides of the railway line central to the bridge.

The location of the existing bridge is at the natural high point that is very similar on both sides of the railway line: thereby being the perfect location for a bridge as this means that the bridge is a simple extension of the road levels which avoids the need for long ramps (unlike the proposed new bridge). Levels can be seen in the white lines of the natural contours. Spot levels indicate a one-meter difference in level to both road surfaces at either end of the existing bridge. Note that at the existing round-about at Saladin Street the ground level is one meter higher than the existing bridge. This then requires the proposed new bridge to transfer the level difference in excess of 2 meters which results in ramping being required. This leads to the appearance of a ‘freeway off ramp’, rather than a ‘bridge’ on the south side of the new bridge.

Also note the local community functions of aged care and schools that result in pedestrian access across the railway line at the point of the existing bridge.

 

Drawing by Neil Cownie Architect.

Go back to the The Future of Swanbourne Village

The Bridging Communities Series