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FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2017
The voice of Delta since 1922
Uncertain future for bridge
NDP leader would defer issue to mayors while Green’s Weaver says second tunnel would be cheaper SANDOR GYARMATI & IAN JACQUES The two B.C. political party leaders who could very well be forming the next government in the coming days are certainly making it sound like the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project will be scrapped, but where that leaves commuters having to deal with the daily bottleneck at the tunnel is unclear. Earlier this week New Democrat leader John Horgan, who has not stated whether he’s outright opposed to the $3.5 billion project, said it’s not likely the best plan and that he would defer the issue to the region’s mayors. The region’s mayors, as well as Metro Vancouver, have already stated their opposition, indicating the 10-lane bridge is unnecessary. Interviewed on CKNW radio Wednesday, Green leader Andrew Weaver claimed a second tunnel would be “much cheaper” and also that the new bridge was not part of an overall transportation plan. Saying congestion would be transferred to the Oak Street Bridge, the Green leader noted what is needed is a comprehensive strategy in Metro Vancouver for transportation that includes public transportation, bridge retrofits, and may include a second tunnel. Larry Colero, the Green’s candidate for Delta South in the election, said he believes the sooner construction is halted the better. “We need to cut our losses
Commuters deal with the daily bottleneck at the George Massey Tunnel Wednesday afternoon. and avoid taking on any further contract commitments. It was a reckless idea from the start, and B.C. needs to go back to square one to assess other options that will more effectively reduce congestion,” he said. “I am confident that there are better alternatives that won’t end up costing us $12 billion in total, including interest on the debt. A quick and work-
able solution in the meantime is to restrict truck traffic during rush hours.” Ian Paton, the Liberal-elect MLA for Delta South said it would be a huge disappointment for Ladner, Tsawwassen and South Surrey motorists having to sit through heavy tunnel congestion every day if the well thought out project was delayed
or scrapped. He noted that work has already begun widening Highway 99. NDP-elect MLA for Delta North Ravi Kahlon said that there is no question there are traffic and congestion issues throughout the region, but that the NDP is not committed to moving that congestion to the
PHOTO BY GORD GOBLE
next bridge. “We want to have a regional plan that looks at traffic congestion overall and then figure out what the capacity is in the region,” Kahlon said. “It doesn’t make sense to put a 10-lane bridge there, with no financing by the way. It’s unclear where the financing is.” DELTA: see Page 3
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