You might yet be able to drive on London’s historic Blackfriars Bridge again, but it could be a one-way ticket costing $4.6 million.

City staff are proposing a long-awaited fix to the Confederation-era bridge at that price, but it would allow vehicle traffic to flow only east — not in both directions.

Calling it a “rare heritage asset,” a report by city engineer John Braam says the 140-year-old bridge should be saved but, with a span so old and narrow, suggests a compromise — an east lane of traffic shared by vehicles and bicycles, and a west lane for bikes and a pedestrian sidewalk.

But that saw-off — and the cost — may not sit well with some politicians.

Coun. Phil Squire, known as a financial watchdog, said he agrees the bridge — built for a horse-and-buggy era — must be saved, but only as a pedestrian and cycle route.

“It’s a big price tag for one lane of traffic and I’m not at the stage that I will say yes to that,” he said Sunday.

The report, which goes to city council’s civic works committee Tuesday, describes the bridge as “cost-effective infrastructure that provides both heritage and transportation value.” It says re-opening the east lane of the now-closed bridge would take some pressure off other traffic arteries, such as Oxford Street, and would fit into the city’s proposed rapid transit plan by improving access to the core.

While the report says the bridge’s heritage nature makes it hard to estimate the rebuild cost, it pegs it at $4 million with another $600,000 for road improvements and landscaping.

Squire said he expects other options, such as a pedestrian-cyclist bridge, would be less expensive and he plans to ask for estimates for those.

The wrought-iron bridge’s dilapidated condition forced the city to shut it down in 2013, re-opening it to pedestrians and cyclists months later after some patch-up repairs.

An environmental assessment later examined options including a full rebuild or replacement of the bridge, limiting access to pedestrians and cyclists or demolishing the bridge.

Wes Kinghorn, who until recently chaired the London Advisory Committee on Heritage, said there’s strong community consensus the bridge must be restored.

“It’s an iconic symbol of London and a necessary link from Blackfriars to the downtown core,” he said.

As for allowing vehicles, and from which direction, he said city staff have that expertise. “I would say it’s best left to the engineers who know what the bridge will take and how to keep it going.”

The report says eastbound traffic was chosen since a count showed slightly more traffic in that direction. Closing the westbound approach also reduces risk, because drivers speeding down the steep, sloping curve from Ridout Street could hit and damage the bridge.

Shutting off westbound traffic would require a mini-roundabout on Ridout Street to give access to local residents. A plan to alternate east-west traffic on one lane, with a traffic light, was rejected as unworkable because of traffic back-ups.

If it gets the go-ahead, work on the project could begin next year.

The rebuild wouldn’t affect the bridge’s overall look or its heritage character.

Braam warns a “do-nothing” strategy won’t work because temporary fixes to bridge won’t last much longer.

hank.daniszewski@sunmedia.ca

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BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE