See how traffic settles before we talk about Massey Tunnel replacement: transportation minister
Posted March 16, 2018 11:55 am.
Last Updated March 16, 2018 11:43 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS 1130) – Don’t expect any major developments on Highway 99 improvements any time soon. The dust needs to settle on other transit projects before we start talking about changes to the Massey Tunnel according to BC’s transportation minister.
The BC NDP is still waiting on a technical review report on a replacement for the aging tunnel after scrapping the previous Liberal government’s bridge project. The report is still expected this spring, and Minister Claire Trevena isn’t giving any hints as to what her government would like to see done. Still, she says she’s very aware of the choking congestion in the area.
“We’re still working out how traffic is redistributing, with the tolls off the Port Mann and Golden Ears, we’ve got a new Pattullo coming up. So, we’re seeing how that is all going to fall into place,” Trevena said.
She says doing something to alleviate congestion in the area is still on her to-do list, but it sounds like it may not happen right away.
“We’re just seeing how traffic is distributed across the region, as one of the elements of assessing what we do in the future,” she said.
Trevena is not speculating on whether a replacement will come before, during or after the construction of a new Pattullo Bridge.
Her government scuttled the BC Liberals’ plan to design, build and finance a 10-lane, $3.5-billion bridge between Richmond and Delta. Delta would like to see the bridge, while Richmond would like to twin the tunnel.
Mayor feeling left out
On a day when TransLink’s ten year plan is getting the financial go-ahead, and a month after the province announced a new Pattullo Bridge – one mayor is feeling left out.
Delta’s mayor is losing hope the Massey Tunnel replacement bridge is going to get built.
“I’m not part of the boys’ club,” says Lois Jackson, suggesting that’s why the bridge has been sidelined.
“You have politics playing a part in these big projects. And that’s what you have today – big major politics.”
She says she’s having a hard time remaining positive, after the transportation minister said she’s going to let the dust settle on other projects before starting a new one.
“That’s going to be a long time from now. It looks like it’s been left by the wayside, and that’s very sad for me,” says Jackson.
A new report by Delta’s engineering department says because of traffic in the tunnel and on the Alex Fraser, drivers can’t avoid being stuck in daily congestion.
Jackson points out the tunnel services the largest container port in Canada and would not survive a major earthquake.
