Whether you agree with it or not, the opening of the new Johnson Street Bridge will be an iconic day in our local history.
On Saturday, March 31st, the City of Victoria will be commemorating the first functioning day of the new bridge by hosting a Hello New, Goodbye Blue celebration – and everyone’s invited!
From noon til 5 PM, the downtown side of the Johnson Street Bridge will be engulfed in celebration, giving everyone a chance to say farewell to Old Blue and welcome the future. Here’s why you should be there:
- Community picnic on both bridges
- Music and entertainment
- Food trucks for every appetite
- Vintage cars and emergency vehicles on site
- Activity stations to share memories of “Old Blue” hosted by the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network
- Crafts to keep your kids busy
- And more!
Vehicle traffic details
Both of the Johnson Street Bridges will be closed to vehicle traffic from 7 AM, Friday, March 30 until approximately 9 PM, Saturday, March 31.
So if you’re driving or taking the bus, be prepared to take the Bay Street bridge or be rerouted.
Here’s the full schedule for vehicular, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic movement on the Johnson Street Bridges from March 30-31st:
- Closure to all vehicle traffic starting 7 AM, Friday, March 30 until approximately 9 PM, Saturday, March 31
- Pedestrian and cyclist access maintained across the pedestrian sidewalk on the existing Johnson Street Bridge March 30-31 (cyclists must dismount and walk bikes across)
- Both bridges and their pedestrian walkways open from Noon – 5 PM on March 31
- Pedestrian and cyclist access maintained across the pedestrian sidewalk on the existing Johnson Street Bridge from 5 PM – 9 PM
- The new Johnson Street Bridge opens to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians at approximately 9 p.m. March 31 and the old Johnson Street Bridge is officially closed to the public
After the new bridge opens up for good, the city will start work on dismantling Old Blue, completing the interim treatments for public spaces at both the east and west approaches to the bridge, public plazas, and a new waterfront park in Victoria West.
We can also expect closures of the new bridge later on, when the “Dynamic Beast” crane barge needs to take away parts of the old bridge.
