I am fascinated with bridges. I like to imagine cities before bridges were built. Bridges in Sydney, Perth, San Francisco, New York and Vancouver join big chunks of their respective towns. My grandfather was a bridge builder. Every time we cross the Narrows Bridge in Perth, I think of my dad proudly saying, ‘your grandpa built this bridge.’ It joins the north to the south of the city. A highway in Perth is now named after my grandfather – Leach Highway.
About seven years ago there were community discussions in Vancouver as the new Port Mann Bridge was opened. The new bridge has 10 lanes and spans across the Fraser River. The talk centred around what to do with the obsolete bridge? One idea for the redevelopment was to turn it into a long strip of public parkland, like the ‘High Line’ on Manhattan’s West Side. The New York version is a project completed in 2009 whereby an old freight line was turned into an elevated public park. It has become a new tourist attraction. Have a look at it at http://www.thehighline.org. Unfortunately, the developers and NYC have taken a high line when it comes to prohibited activities on the High Line. Visitors to the High Line are NOT able to walk on rail tracks, gravel, or plants; pick flowers or plants; sit on railings or climb on any part of the High Line; cycle, skateboard, skate, drink alcohol, feed any of the wildlife or produce any amplified sound.
It was decided to demolish the old bridge, built in 1964, using what is termed reverse construction. Shame.
Bridge restrictions, like custom crossings, can make our cityscapes difficult to cross. We put tolls on bridges. The on and off ramps of big city bridges tend to be places of traffic congestion and frustration. Bridges are pricey for cities to maintain and come under great scrutiny for safety. Recently the new and elegant Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver, built to solve traffic problems, has been under fire due to so-called ‘ice bombs.’ Ice falling onto cars and creating traffic hazards and insurance claims in the winter months. Did the architect predict this might happen? Once built, bridges are difficult to modify — challenging to widen, and modifications for bike lanes are a high priority these days.
Jesus is our bridge – he just stretched out his body as a way to bridge the chasm between God and us. He took away the tolls, the maintenance fees, the design headaches, the safety issues. He said - walk – or ride a bike or drive - across my body that has been laid out flat for this purpose. He encourages us to stop and pick the flowers and sit on the railings. To slow down. He is always just and kind, and forgiving.
Bridges are infrastructures that join people and enterprises together. They enable movement and opportunities for communities to spread out and grow. I consider that is a big part of the call for Soulkitchen here in Vancouver - to facilitate movement. To create bridges between communities, businesses and lonely people. Making kingdom connections of promise and hope.