Butting heads: Mayor of Delta calls on province to get to work, cites safety concerns along River Road

DELTA (NEWS 1130) – The City of Delta and the province are at odds once again — but this time it’s not about the Massey Tunnel.

A washed-out section of River Road hasn’t been repaired in more than a year — and like the tunnel — the city’s mayor says it’s the province’s job to get the work done.

In fact, this particular stretch of road in North Delta is maintained by the province, and not the city.

“I wish they would let us have the responsibility, because we would have ensured that it would have been looked after quicker,” Mayor George Harvie said. “[I’m] disappointed, because I already don’t have that much patience.”

He cites safety concerns, since the one open lane is controlled by a temporary traffic light.

“We have people getting impatient, and then we could have head-ons right in that one restricted lane area,” he explained.

A portion of River Road in North Delta was washed out a year ago, and the city is calling on the province to get to work and make repairs. (Tim James, NEWS 1130 Photo)

His concerns have been echoed by some on his council, who also say repairs along the route are the province’s responsibility, and that so far they haven’t delivered.

“A lot of frustration from Delta residents who, as you know, have been dealing with this for many, many months now,” Councillor Dylan Kruger said.

However, Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon is refuting claims the stretch of road is unsafe.

“I take it every day — I haven’t seen anybody run the red light,” Kahlon said, adding not everyone is complaining. “We also hear from local residents who are like ‘Hey, I appreciate that traffic is actually going slower so that my kids can play in the front yard.'”

The MLA believes Harvie should relax, and reiterates that the mayor doesn’t have jurisdiction over work on River Road.

“And I think the mayor knows it’s easier to throw rocks at somebody else,” Kahlon said, adding the city should focus on its own roadwork. “There’s many projects within Delta that, perhaps, could be done as well.”

Several signs are up warning drivers not to run the red light. Delta’s police chief has also said there haven’t been any complaints into the department about people running the red light.

Signs are up warning drivers not to run the red light set up on a section of River Road that was washed out. (Tim James, NEWS 1130 Photo)

During 2018’s civic election, the two politicians disagreed as to whether the Massey Tunnel replacement was an election issue in Delta — Harvie said yes, while Kahlon said no.

Repair work on River Road which was originally scheduled to start this spring, is now expected to start sometime in August.

The Ministry of Transportation has declined an interview about the delay and construction timeline.

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