How will the province factor in ice bomb problems when planning new Massey crossing?

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The province will factor in the recent ice bomb problems as it continues plans to go ahead with a massive bridge to replace the Massey Tunnel, according to the transportation minister.

The stories we heard from our listeners were pretty frightening, big chunks of ice smashing in their windshields — Transportation Minister Todd Stone says the province will factor in what we’ve seen during this recent snowfall as it plans its $3.5-billion 10-lane toll bridge to replace the tunnel.

“We do that with every project that we embark upon within the ministry,” says Stone. “We take lessons learned from previous projects, previous infrastructure that we build.”

Following the latest ice bomb problems, operators on the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges were forced to significantly change their de-icing efforts.

“I would point out that the cable collar system that we developed for the Port Mann Bridge — it would be better if we didn’t need a cable collar on that bridge for sure, but we did develop that technology here in B.C., and jurisdictions from around the world that encounter very similar winter conditions as we encounter here have actually come and we’re working with them to help deploy this technology on their bridges,” says Stone.

The latest round of ice bombs has even prompted the NDP to question whether we need that planned bridge at all, with that party’s transportation critic Claire Trevena suggesting the priority should be on funding more transit.

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