Would extended Deltaport hours ease Massey Tunnel backups?
Posted February 26, 2013 7:28 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – Richmond City Council is floating an idea that might help unclog one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the Lower Mainland: the Massey Tunnel.
Councillor Bill McNulty says a big part of the problem is trucks coming from the border and Deltaport having to use the tunnel during rush hour.
“Right now, the port is only open [to trucks] during the daytime,” McNulty tells News1130. “Operating 24 hours a day as opposed to only in the daytime… it’s a suggestion that can be looked at because we have to maximize our infrastructure.”
The province says the tunnel has 10 to 15 years of useful life left. The Ministry of Transportation started accepting suggestions from the public last year for a replacement.
“They’re talking about a river crossing and new bridges,” says McNulty. “Well, we have a whole 12 hours at night when the port isn’t in operation. That’s when the trucks can run, when there aren’t any cars on the road. We need to look at the whole transportation system throughout the region and the port needs to look at the way it’s doing business.”
Richmond Council is sending a letter to the province, outlining a few suggestions to ease congestion along Highway 99.
McNulty also wants to meet with representatives from Port Metro Vancouver. The fear is traffic will get worse when Deltaport expands.
There are also plans for a massive mall and new residential developments in Tsawwassen, which will add to the problem.
