Port wants higher Massey Bridge to accommodate LNG tankers; unclear who would cover cost

RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – Construction of a new bridge to replace the Massey Tunnel is scheduled to start in 2017, but Port Metro Vancouver is pushing for some changes to allow huge LNG tankers access to the Fraser River.

Documents obtained by the group Voters Taking Action On Climate Change suggest the Port wants the bridge eight metres higher than what has been proposed by the province to accommodate taller liquefied natural gas transport ships at a possible terminal in Delta.

VTACC director Kevin Washbrook says the scope of the proposed terminal caught them by surprise.

“It would be bigger than the Woodfibre terminal proposed outside of Squamish, and that has had a ton of attention and raised a lot of concern,” he tells News1130. “Now there’s a proposal for an LNG terminal on the narrow, windy Fraser with a bunch of other marine traffic.”

Washbrook wants to see public debate on the Port’s push to raise the bridge from 57 metres to 65 metres to allow taller LNG tankers up the river.

“The biggest concern is that there seems to be no long-term vision for the Fraser River — what it will look like in 10, 20 or 50 years — and right now it’s basically ‘death by a thousand cuts.’ We have a new coal port in Surrey that will have 80 freighters a year, we have this recently NEB-approved LNG terminal at Tilbury Island that would have 70 tankers a year and more dredging of the river channels. When is it enough? When does the public get to have its say?” Washbrook asks.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says there will be public debate, at least when it comes to the George Massey Tunnel replacement project.

“Discussions about the height of the proposed bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel are part of the on-going work of the project,” says public affairs officer Sonia Lowe.

“This work includes discussions with a number of stakeholders, including Port Metro Vancouver and Transport Canada, about the needs of marine traffic. The project definition report will include information about the project scope as well as estimated costs and a business case,” she tells News1130.

“This will be available for public discussion in the coming months.”

Port Metro Vancouver confirms they have asked the province for an increase in the height of the proposed Massey bridge.

“We have a variety of vessel traffic up the river now and we certainly anticipate that will grow in the future,” says Peter Xotta, VP of planning and operations. “Over the years we’ve looked at cruise vessels up the river, we’ve looked at container vessels up the river and, because of the discourse in the province around LNG, we also looked at those vessels … just to provide the maximum flexibility for future development activities.”

The province says the extra costs associated with a higher bridge have not been determined yet and Xotta wouldn’t give any figures either.

“We have not had a discussion about contribution of funding. We expect the province may be engaging with senior levels of government over those discussions and may approach us. We are open to those conversations if that comes about,” he says.