The Cache:
This structure will be familiar to a few of you as there was a cache hidden here a few years back. Cache is a small snap lid box with enough room for small trackables and small trinkets. Please be advised that GZ is completely wheelchair accessible, however, the cache itself is not. The cache can be found at the top of the 3rd ramp, just before the 4th. I have included a photo of the bridge where I have highlighted GZ just incase the coordinates are a bit funky. Please take care when removing and replacing the cache so that it does not fall and please replace the cache exactly as you found it. Cachers might profit from having a tall caching buddy with you. I have included a loonie as FTF prize and there is a pencil in the container. As always, have fun and happy caching!
Congratulations to Amandag42 for being the FTF!
A Bit of History:
The Drury Lane pedestrian bridge, aptly nicknamed ‘The Green Bridge’, is a pedestrian bridge whose purpose is to connect the Glenwood Park neighbourhood of Burlington to Fairview Street, providing an alternative route and a shortcut for residents, pedestrians and cyclists alike from taking the long route to Brant Street or Guelph Line.
Since its construction in 1972, the bridge has become a bit of a landmark for the city of Burlington with its iconic bright green colour and winding ramps, which make it so much more unique than any other pedestrian bridge of its kind. Over the years it has gone through a few changes, of which include structural expansion in 1984 to accommodate the expansion of the CN rail lines below, numerous paint jobs and replacement of the wooden deck with a stronger steel version in 1998. However, in the fall of 2011, the bridge almost went through a permanent change, and not a good one at that.
In the fall of 2011, a report submitted to the city of Burlington by a structural engineering firm, who conducted a routine inspection of the green bridge, deemed it unsafe for pedestrian use – citing “obvious signs of corrosion and deterioration, typical for a bridge of that age.”
On November, 25th 2011, the bridge was closed abruptly as a precautionary measure until further notice by the city of Burlington. In January, 2012, the city had received an estimated repair cost of $380,000 from the engineering firm. In response to this, the city of Burlington had discussed plans to scrap the pedestrian bridge entirely, claiming that not enough pedestrians used the bridge on a daily basis to make the cost of repairs worth the trouble, and that “The GO station’s pedestrian tunnel was right around the corner” (in reality, hardly so – 400-500 metres out of the way). Once this news hit the general public, that’s when the chaos began.
Residents, namely those of the Glenwood Park neighbourhood, we’re absolutely floored and outraged at what they had heard from the city. The green bridge was the easiest and most efficient way to access schools and businesses on or near Fairview street, not to mention all of the train watching enthusiasts that excitedly traveled to the bridge throughout all corners of Burlington every day and night to catch a glimpse of a GO, Via, and on rare occasions, freight and Amtrak trains. Contrary to what the city believed, the bridge was used very frequently and demolishing it would have resulted in lots of late students, a reduction of consumers to local businesses and lots of grumpy residents.
In response to the commotion, the city allowed residents to share their reasoning as to why the bridge should be saved at a city hall meeting, of which turned out to be one of the biggest crowd attended meetings the city had ever held.
On February 15, 2012, After hearing many inspiring stories from residents, and truly exceptional work and involvement from ward 2 councillor Marianne Meed Ward, the city of Burlington came to the decision to pursue the repairs of the bridge and the green bridge was saved.
However, as with all construction and rehabilitation projects in Burlington, the repairs of the bridge weren’t completed with lightning speed. The bridge was still completely deserted of any observable work for 5 months. Physical repairs didn’t actually begin until late July 2012. Once construction began, it only took a month for repairs to be completed.
On August 24, 2012, a grand re-opening was held at the green bridge, attended by Burlington mayor Rick Goldring, ward 2 councillor Marianne Meed Ward and many ecstatic residents, thrilled to see the bridge re-opened. Even though the repairs done on the bridge are only temporary, extending the usable life of the bridge for another 5 years until further replacement plans can be debated, residents are thrilled that the legacy of the green bridge, and climbing to the top of the bridge to watch the parade of trains, can continue. After finding the cache, I strongly recommend that you climb up the additional 2 ramps and take a few minutes to enjoy the view and try and spot a couple of trains. It’s actually quite relaxing. Have fun and happy caching! :)
P.S. - CITO is optional as sometimes visitors to the bridge leave trash behind. If you ever see some, feel free to practice CITO.