Victoria will spend $3.85 million to replace the aging pale-blue concrete railing along Dallas Road with a new steel-and-cable design similar to fencing on the Ogden Point breakwater.
Councillors unanimously approved the expenditure at a committee of the whole meeting Thursday, paving the way for the project to get underway this spring and conclude by fall.
The move comes after council endorsed a plan last year to replace the 500-metre balustrade from Lewis Street to Dock Street in conjunction with the installation of new sewer works, bike paths and sidewalks as part of the Capital Regional District’s wastewater treatment project.
It was a controversial decision at the time, given the nostalgic attachment that many people have to the balustrade, which was built in 1957 and has become one of the city’s more familiar landmarks, painted by artists and photographed by tourists.
Councillors, however, were compelled by the railing’s deteriorating condition, rising maintenance expenses and potential safety risks. As well, city staff argued that linking replacement to the sewage treatment project will minimize overall costs and reduce disruptions due to construction.
Coun. Jeremy Loveday reiterated many of those points in voting to approve the expenditure. “I’ll be honest that I have an emotional nostalgic attachment to the current railing and I’m sad to see it go,” he said. “I think it has heritage value and I think there’s a lot of people who feel similarly to me.”
Nevertheless, he said the arguments for replacement make sense.
“I think this will improve safety, sight lines and the pedestrian experience overall,” he said. “And doing it now, while tied into the CRD project, will lower the amount of construction impact and also, I think, save us money.”
Coun. Geoff Young admitted a similar attachment to the old balustrade, but agreed with Loveday on the need to replace it.
“I think it is essential to move forward,” he said. “I can just see the enormous costs that we would be bleeding year after year if we were doing sections of that thing and trying to repair and replace them bit by bit.
“Money is cheap right now — even cheaper than it was last week — and this is a good time to shoulder this burden.”
The $3.85-million cost includes $600,000 to remove and dispose of the old railing, $1 million to install the new one, $1.2 million for pavement, sidewalks, bollards and a two-way cycle track as well as administration costs and contingencies.
The money will come from the city’s buildings and infrastructure reserve fund, which has an unallocated balance of $18 million.
Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe noted that people were once adamantly opposed to the railing on the Ogden Point breakwater, but have come to appreciate the design.
“I walked it two weeks ago and everybody — even myself — was saying how it’s improved it,” she said. “I think [despite] people’s concerns and fears, they actually are now more supportive of it.”
