Could OKW use a new bridge?

[Deb & Bill]

The biggest problem is the lack of space at the end of the proposed bridge along Peninsular Road. The base would have to be in the Trumbo Canal. The bridge would let out right on the road.

 

[tor]

Looking at the satellite view the entrance to the bridge would be near the road but would remove all the pedestrian traffic away from the road making it safer. With the new bridge you will have to cross the street once as you do now except it is at the end of the road away from traffic. Much safer than having kids walk along the road.

A little money spent to keep the kids from walking where they could dart out in front of those big busses seems like a wise choice.

 

[dcamdad]

The biggest problem is the lack of space at the end of the proposed bridge along Peninsular Road. The base would have to be in the Trumbo Canal. The bridge would let out right on the road.

There is also no sidewalk on that side of the road which would have to be added meaning moving or removing the existing palms.

Also on the opposite side where would this bridge end, on the beach area or the woods. As Chuck pointed out it would have to be ADA compliant which would require a hard walkway either thru the volleyball area or removing trees.

Simple fact is it would cost OKW owners way more than 100K as the OP suggested and serve little to no advantage as well as detract from the original and current beauty of OKW. As pointed out HH is a booking catagory if you want a short walk, if staying in other areas the buses seem to have worked fine for years.

 

[tor]

There is also no sidewalk on that side of the road which would have to be added meaning moving or removing the existing palms.

Also on the opposite side where would this bridge end, on the beach area or the woods. As Chuck pointed out it would have to be ADA compliant which would require a hard walkway either thru the volleyball area or removing trees.

Simple fact is it would cost OKW owners way more than 100K as the OP suggested and serve little to no advantage as well as detract from the original and current beauty of OKW. As pointed out HH is a booking catagory if you want a short walk, if staying in other areas the buses seem to have worked fine for years.

You can't put a price on safety. Safety, Security than Showmanship.

 

[Chuck S]

Looking at the satellite view the entrance to the bridge would be near the road but would remove all the pedestrian traffic away from the road making it safer. With the new bridge you will have to cross the street once as you do now except it is at the end of the road away from traffic. Much safer than having kids walk along the road.

A little money spent to keep the kids from walking where they could dart out in front of those big busses seems like a wise choice.

I really don't see crossing Peninsular Rd at bldg 29 as being any safer than crossing near the Turtle Crawl. You are near a 3 way intersection, where Peninsular Rd becomes South Point and intersects with Turtle Pond. The crossing would not be away from traffic at all.

Additional lighting would also be required, unless they plan to close the bridge at dusk.

And still, we'd be paying for the busses, so why not use them, if you are unable, or do not desire, to walk that far. That would also address any safety concerns, too.

If safety were the sole concern, it would be far cheaper to put an automated crossing gate, or light, at the current crosswalk, or to use the busses.

 

[tor]

I really don't see crossing Peninsular Rd at bldg 29 as being any safer than crossing near the Turtle Crawl. You are near a 3 way intersection, where Peninsular Rd becomes South Point and intersects with Turtle Pond. The crossing would not be away from traffic at all.

Additional lighting would also be required, unless they plan to close the bridge at dusk.

And still, we'd be paying for the busses, so why not use them, if you are unable, or do not desire, to walk that far.

The crossing may be the same but it would definitely take the long walk away from the traffic and on the current walk you need to cross several driveway entrances all eliminated with the new bridge

 

[Chuck S]

The crossing may be the same but it would definitely take the long walk away from the traffic and on the current walk you need to cross several driveway entrances all eliminated with the new bridge

But if safety is the primary concern, using the busses is the safest option.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The crossing may be the same but it would definitely take the long walk away from the traffic and on the current walk you need to cross several driveway entrances all eliminated with the new bridge

Kids in your town don't walk on sidewalks in the neighborhood???

 

[dcamdad]

Looking at the satellite view the entrance to the bridge would be near the road but would remove all the pedestrian traffic away from the road making it safer. With the new bridge you will have to cross the street once as you do now except it is at the end of the road away from traffic. Much safer than having kids walk along the road.

A little money spent to keep the kids from walking where they could dart out in front of those big busses seems like a wise choice.

And how would it remove pedestrian traffic away from the road? Only if you are staying in blgs 27-29, everyone else would still have to walk along the roadway. If built as proposed the crossing would be very close or directly in front of the parking entrance/exit for bldgs 27-29, not the safest in my eyes. The safest option is use the busses we are already paying for.

 

[WDWDad]

Ok Diane , by your own measurements of about 3' per step that would make your house 600' long

 

[Deb & Bill]

Ok Diane , by your own measurements of about 3' per step that would make your house 600' long

I take it you haven't seen her house.

 

[dcamdad]

Ok Diane , by your own measurements of about 3' per step that would make your house 600' long

I think she said she would have to walk from one end to the other twice, so its not 600' long.

 

[WDWDad]

Ok I was going to walk away, but there seems to be some discusssion still happening, and one idea that has been proposed as an option for those not wanting to walk is to just take the bus. However if one gets on the bus at say Penninsular Rd. you then have to ride to the back of the resort stopping at South Point and Turtle Crawl, then drive to the front of the resort turn left at the 4 way stop and go to Millers Rd., then make the circle turn thru the parking lot there that always gives me the head spins, then go back to HH to be dropped off so you can still walk 200' to the pool area. Now in fairness that ride is much easier getting back, but still it is by no means convenient. Especially if you have small children in tow.

Also lets not blow the ADA requirements out of proportion ADA restrictions are not that difficult to attain on a pedestrian bridge. Basically the bridge would need to be 50" wide, the grade on the bridge gets relief from the rules on slope as a required walkway over an impediment. The ramps upto the structure would need to be complient but given the area and the fact that the bridge entrance could be at road level would definatly not make this difficult.

As for wetlands, the area on the far side near the Tennis courts does not look like true wetlands to me, but Florida Soils and Structures would make that determination. Obviously there are methods of dealing with this issue or none of WDW would have been built.

Also what if Disney were to bear part of the cost of the project as they did the Castle slide? What if a new walking bridge were to be a precursor to some improved amenities to be located right of the Tennis courts?

 

[dcamdad]

Disney/DVD bore all the costs for the castle slide as members voted against it. In this issue I beleive they would put all the costs on the owners, and probably not by adding it to MF's but by a special assesment to be paid in full. While I understand your bridge theory to a point, I still feel it is totally unneeded as it would really only benefit a very small part of the guests. Under your proposal it is really only benefitting those staying in bldgs 27 -30, guests staying in other areas such as Turtle Pond or Millers Road will simply hop on a bus. Guests staying in bldgs 23-26 will actually have a shorter walk on the existing route.

 

[tor]

And how would it remove pedestrian traffic away from the road? Only if you are staying in blgs 27-29, everyone else would still have to walk along the roadway. If built as proposed the crossing would be very close or directly in front of the parking entrance/exit for bldgs 27-29, not the safest in my eyes. The safest option is use the busses we are already paying for.

Im with you lets go for two bridgesprobably get a discount on the second

 

[La2kw]

Wow you people really fear open discussion don't you? DVC will no more consider this thread being discussed by 4-5 people a useful review of the issue than I do. Is this how all ideas are to be handled on the Dis? If 4, or 5 people don't like it then we have to kill the discussion lest it possibilly reach 1 or 2 more people who might like it. And if 4 people like it then JL, and DVC, will undoubtably build it.

The discussion could have led somewhere and we have made some discoveries into other issues, but no let's go back to some other more important issue like the next occupancy discusssion, pool hopping, or the proper usage of pool towels.

I'm done here.

I really have nothing to add other than the fact that building a bridge would be an eyesore and ruin the feel of OKW. I hardly think that walking on a sidewalk is more dangerous than taking a bus or requesting the HH category.

I also want to point out that more than 4 or 5 people do not like this idea.

 

[tor]

Ok I was going to walk away, but there seems to be some discusssion still happening, and one idea that has been proposed as an option for those not wanting to walk is to just take the bus. However if one gets on the bus at say Penninsular Rd. you then have to ride to the back of the resort stopping at South Point and Turtle Crawl, then drive to the front of the resort turn left at the 4 way stop and go to Millers Rd., then make the circle turn thru the parking lot there that always gives me the head spins, then go back to HH to be dropped off so you can still walk 200' to the pool area. Now in fairness that ride is much easier getting back, but still it is by no means convenient. Especially if you have small children in tow.

We also own at Marriott and at the surfwatch on Hilton Head they have golf carts running around everywhere. You can flag them down or call and they come pick you up. Most often we walk but it is a nice option at the end of a long beach day

 

[dcamdad]

Im with you lets go for two bridgesprobably get a discount on the second

Apparently not, I don't want one bridge not to mention a second.

 

[tor]

Kids in your town don't walk on sidewalks in the neighborhood???

It was less then a year ago a 9 year old boy was killed by a disney bus while riding on a side walk.

 

[tor]

I really have nothing to add other than the fact that building a bridge would be an eyesore and ruin the feel of OKW. I hardly think that walking on a sidewalk is more dangerous than taking a bus or requesting the HH category.

I also want to point out that more than 4 or 5 people do not like this idea.

I see a lot of Disney's work not much falls into the eyesore category. Maybe a tunnel could solve the problem??