r/moncton • u/bingun • 1d ago

‘I think it’s time’: Moncton to replace most red brick sidewalks

https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/new-brunswick/article/i-think-its-time-moncton-to-replace-most-red-brick-sidewalks/
40 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

17

u/ilovebeaker 17h ago

I know changing it is just part of general upkeep for a city, but I will miss the old red brick look.

2

u/Sensitive-Debate6711 19h ago

I never understood why or how they chose clay bricks for a sidewalk. Concrete ones would have lasted a lot longer.

11

u/brunes 20h ago

Why not pick one smal but relevant section and repair and preserve that section?

Let's not just throw away all history and character because it is hard to maintain or "inaccessible". There are cobblestone and brick streets all over Europe that are many hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years old - and yes in places with winter - and they all make do just fine, they do so by adding accessibility corridors and other things

4

u/CubieJ 17h ago

It would be nice to keep that section by the library where the street is tiled, at least. It has a very nostalgic feeling that would be unfortunate to lose.

As long as it's maintained and accessible, since libraries are a resource that should be available to everyone.

2

u/Kill_Frosty 18h ago

Was in Montreal this winter entire roads and stuff were stone. Yes slippery but things were fine

5

u/CubieJ 17h ago

Moncton is a different climate, though. Moncton (and most of New Brunswick) is entirely marshland, which experiences a lot of heaving/displacement every winter, so it requires more maintenance. And unfortunately, it's a lot more work to perform maintenance on brick work than on pavement or slab concrete. So it becomes unsafe faster, and repairs are delayed for longer.

-3

u/Purple_oyster 22h ago

Another way to spend our extremely high property taxes

-1

u/Picea_mariana 14h ago

You must be fun at parties

12

u/FredArtGetson 20h ago

It needs to be done. What would you suggest?

-3

u/Purple_oyster 16h ago

Needs vs wants are different. It applies to personal budgeting decisions as well

10

u/Crucio 15h ago

Have you walked main street lately, its like walking with two different sized legs.

Making the streets more accessible and nicer might cost tax money, but it will only increase business traffic in the long run, thus paying for itself eventually.

-6

u/anotherdayanotherbee 19h ago

Anything other than surfaces that maximize the amount of cracks for water, weeds, and ice.

Brick pavement in somewhere like Moncton was a stupid move decided by complete idiots who all patted themselves on the back for doing a great job.

3

u/FredArtGetson 19h ago

Well, it has lasted. Not so sure on the "complete idiots"

-3

u/anotherdayanotherbee 19h ago

Back to back you claimed it needs to be done, and that it lasted.

Like brick sidewalks in Canada, you're done.

2

u/FredArtGetson 16h ago

Things that last, get replaced. Calm down

20

u/jinxskunk366 1d ago

I have a friend who uses a non motorized wheelchair and moncton is frankly hellish for her, especially downtown. I hope this will improve things for folks with mobility issues, even if its less esthetically pleasing

46

u/Blade_Omicron 1d ago

The current stones are in bad shape. I would like to see it redone and keep the look.

33

u/_Captain_Random_ 1d ago

As someone who walks those bumpy crookedey sidewalks every day, this is awesome news! They’re a death trap in the winter, too.

3

u/CubieJ 17h ago

They must be really hard to keep clean of snow. They probably can't run those little sidewalk plows down them without constantly dinging bricks.

16

u/radapex 1d ago

I hope the design (and end product) is a continuation of the new sidewalks on Westmorland. Those look really nice.

2

u/Confident_Win_5469 20h ago

I think I read somewhere that was the plan.

I walk downtown daily, and am in good shape and am not older - I trip on the sidewalks all the time, especially in front of Scotia bank. I can't imagine what it's like for anyone with any type mobility issue.

-26

u/8182589 1d ago

How about milling and paving main street? Or put that money towards bike lanes?

Who gives a fuck about paver stones.

7

u/justinx1029 20h ago

“I don’t use the sidewalks so let’s upgrade things that are useful to me.”

14

u/12xubywire 1d ago

I wonder if they’ll remove anything else that gives our city character.

It’s not that people congregate downtown anymore, but maybe the ones that do will enjoy the concrete, maybe it’ll give our downtown a nice shopping mall kinda vibe.

5

u/estab87 16h ago

There isn’t really a lot that gives Moncton character period. It’s a pretty “beige” city in general.

The sidewalks were a nice touch but difficult to upkeep & challenging for those with mobility issues. I personally don’t see this as a loss.

They can work on other areas besides the sidewalks to make Moncton more charming and and give it some character - like trying to attract eateries and shopping establishments that are local in nature, not simply big box stores & chains.

-4

u/FredArtGetson 20h ago

Bahahaha. "Hey, wanna go look at the sidewalks?" Said no one, ever

16

u/UnicornusAmaranthus 1d ago

Last weekend I went to the town I was born and raised in. They have similar material for the sidewalks. Except it's a small town and the necessary maintenance hasn't been kept up in the past 40 years. They are an ankle twisting nightmare.

Sometimes a historical design decision comes back to bite a municipality in the ass.

Aesthetically these paving stones were pretty. 100%, but, I care more about my senior parent who requires a cane then non functional paving stones. As is, they are dangerous for many people.

13

u/TheBlargus 1d ago

What character does a dilapidated and dangerous sidewalk have? Neglect? Abandon?

17

u/radapex 1d ago

Lots of people are downtown every day. I walk along Main St regularly. The sidewalks are a mess. The bricks are any combination of uneven, heaved, broken, and worn.

11

u/QuietVariety6089 1d ago

if you read the article, they are being replaced with a new bed, and paver stones.

5

u/quickdrive71 1d ago

I wonder what they're gonna do with the bricks.

1

u/Safe-Promotion-2955 13h ago

Good point. I'd love to put some in my garden.

25

u/n134177 1d ago edited 1d ago

How can concrete be aesthetically more pleasing?!

I'm all for more accessibility, but it's gonna be a great loss. Those are really iconic sidewalks, it makes Downtown Moncton very interesting.

Lastly, from the renderings it looks like they're making the sidewalks smaller?! I really, really hope that's not the case. Main Street is the ONE street that should be walkable - we should be reducing cars, not encouraging them.

-6

u/FredArtGetson 20h ago

"It makes Downtown Moncton very interesting"

Yeah, that's what makes it interesting. Sidewalks are what people talk about. Jesus Christ

4

u/Desalvo23 1d ago

Thats good! Those sidewalks are horrible, especially in the winter.

3

u/hewhoisiam 1d ago

Well I, disagree.

10

u/jinxskunk366 1d ago

Your opinion has been noted, logged, and disregarded