It's not often that benches become the most talked about aspect of a major infrastructure project, but thanks to social media, that's exactly what's happened with the new Granville Connector project in Vancouver.Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of the new bike and pedestrian lanes on the Granville St. Bridge, photos of the seating areas went viral, and divided opinion..One user on Reddit described them as "an eyesore and the least inviting benches in the history of urban planning," while another said it looked as though Vancouver had "hired a Temu contractor.""Now people can sit and stare at the railing," yet another quipped. "This is brilliant design really.".In a statement, the City of Vancouver told the Western Standard that these were "interim designs, which will be replaced when sidewalk widening takes place in future phases of the Granville Connector project."A spokesperson explained that "with financial constraints, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was made to advance this first phase of the project to provide the needed transportation connectivity and accessibility using temporary materials and treatments, where possible, to reduce costs.""To support accessibility, this phase included the installation of four temporary ramps to connect the upper and lower sidewalks," the city added. "Benches were included on the top of the ramps to provide space for people to rest, which is particularly important for people who may not be able to walk across the bridge without a break."
