Bridge work has redirected the riverside path again, which means everyone is currently using the same narrow temporary route past the fencing.
The interesting part is how quickly a diversion becomes normal. On the first morning people stopped at the barrier and looked annoyed. A week later nobody breaks stride. Cyclists dismount at the same point. Dog walkers take the same short cut. People who never spoke before now exchange the same complaint about the pinch point.
Temporary routes leave almost no record once they are removed, but for weeks or months they can change how a whole patch of a city is used. A café gets more passing trade. One crossing becomes busier. A quiet path suddenly feels crowded.
I walked the diversion from each end today, mostly so I can compare the route when the work is finally finished.
The permanent bridge will get the attention. The improvised route around it is the part people will forget first.