New Massey crossing still years away from completion

BURNABY (NEWS 1130) — Construction of a new tunnel or bridge linking Delta with Richmond over the Fraser River won’t start anytime soon to reduce traffic congestion through the existing George Massey tunnel.

Before a final choice is made, up to a dozen options must now be reviewed and assessed by Metro Vancouver mayors on a task force set up earlier this year.

The preliminary short-list of scenarios include crossings which range from four to eight lanes with –or without– the current tunnel remaining active.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie says a deeply-bored tunnel is the likely choice, but he doesn’t think it should include designated lanes to speed up the movement of commercial goods.

RELATED: Horgan hints twinning of the Massey Tunnel may soon become reality

He’s suggesting restrictions on truck traffic would encourage more deliveries during quiet times.

“Have the Port open 24 hours a day. The big hesitation is those receiving the goods, they have to be there during the night,” he says.

Brodie says the people of Richmond have always supported building a new tunnel or twinning the old one, so he’s relieved the provincial government is not forging ahead without input from local leaders.

“They’re working with us to try and find out our preferences and what we think is feasible, so that we can have a good solution in the future.”

 

Delta Mayor George Harvie admits he’s worried about how long it will take for construction to start because everything depends on how quickly environmental assessments can be completed.

“Totally concerned about it. You’re looking at 2030 and when I said that originally, people laughed at me,” he says. “Now they start doing the math –2030 may be too early, so yes, I’m very, very concerned.”

He says one thing all the mayors agree on is making sure the new plan includes lanes for rapid transit, as well as accomodating cyclists and pedestrians.

Harvie says that might be reason enough to keep the George Massey tunnel in place.

“If the tunnel shows that it can be kept for passive usage as for walking or cycling, I can support that –providing it’s going to be safe and the ventilation’s there and the fire response is there because that would be a much shorter route than going through the bored tunnel.”

RELATED: Province looking at rapid transit to connect Vancouver and North Shore

Harvie is also worried completely getting rid of the current tunnel could be harmful for a couple of reasons.

First, he doesn’t want larger ships accessing that channel and second, he’s concerned about an already-sensitive ecosystem getting damaged.

Six options presented to the mayors on Wednesday include keeping at least two lanes active through the current tunnel for vehicle traffic, but Harvie doesn’t think that’s a good idea.

“If they’re going to re-purpose the existing tunnel for any use, I want to see the engineering reports and I want to give them to my council and I want to release them publicly because any re-purposing has to have the confidence of the community that it’s going to be safe, the investment’s going to last for a large number of years.”

RELATED: Don’t forget about cyclists on Massey Tunnel replacement: advocate

Brodie says he’d also like to see the old tunnel re-purposed for cyclists and pedestrians.

“The environmental assessment is the big question. How long is that going to take? It’s unfortunate that we didn’t have these discussions with the province six or seven years ago.”

The mayors need to take these options back to their councils and another meeting with B.C. Ministry of Transportation staff is set for October 2nd.

It’s been nearly two years since the NDP government halted a former BC Liberal plan to build a ten-lane bridge which would be tolled.

Earlier this year, the mayors of Delta, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver and White Rock, along with the Chiefs of the Musqueam and Tsawwassen First Nations said their preferred choice is a new eight-lane tunnel with two lanes dedicated to rapid transit.

In April, Premier John Horgan said key stakeholders, including Ottawa, are working together to make sure the best choice is made in a timely manner.

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