The Unknown Studio

It’s no secret that the Dawson Bridge needed a major facelift (see actual photo of bridge before renovations began below). And while most residents of Riverdale (and Forest Heights, on the east side of the North Saskatchewan River) have taken the inconvenience in stride, the negative impact of the bridge closure on others is palpable.

Not so for local software development manager Sean Ouimet, however. Sean’s lived in Riverdale for about six and a half months and during the summertime, he uses the Dawson Bridge often. The Unknown Studio spoke with Sean over email to sort out how the bridge closure has negatively impacted his life… if at all. Read the rest of this entry »

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I know I’ve probably mentioned this before, and tweeted about it about a million times, but I live in a very unique neighbourhood in Edmonton. It represents a confluence of tired beatniks, closeted and former communists, artisans, and the kinds of neighbours who wave and say hello as you walk past. It’s called Riverdale, my friends, and it’s truly one of the City of Champion’s unplucked gems.

Yes, I’ll wait while you make several Riverdale/Archie & Jughead jokes… Finished? Good.

One of the unique things about Riverdale is that there are basically only two roads in or out of the neighbourhood — and the second such road isn’t even worthy of the name. It’s less a road and more a highly-confusing intersection. The other somewhat major road (Rowland Road) leads to the eastern part of the city via a bridge. An old bridge. A bridge that was open until January 4th of this year.

That bridge is called “Dawson.” And this post is the first in a series of monthly updates on the progress of the rehabilitation of the bridge, and the various ways its closure has inconvenienced me, and no doubt tens of other people. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 34% [?]