Just how long will it take to get a new crossing between Delta and Richmond now that the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project is dead?
According to Delta Mayor George Harvie, the new timeline appears to have a new crossing ready by 2030 at the earliest, eight years after the 10-lane bridge would have been completed.
Harvie took part in a conference call with Transportation Minister Claire Trevena last Friday, reiterating his concern over that timeline.
“My number one priority is to get the mayors of Surrey, White Rock, Richmond and myself together, along with the Tsawwassen First Nation and the Musqueam, to talk. The sooner that we can put a united voice together, the sooner we can get it back to the province,” he said.
Harvie noted aside from a process that will occur even after the province comes up with a business case for a preferred option in late 2020, everything will be drawn out even longer if a federal environmental review is required. That would happen if another smaller bridge is proposed and its supports would go into the Fraser River, or if another tunnel is chosen.
“I am worried because, they way I look at it now, it’s at least 2030. If the option that the province looks at includes touching the river, it can even go past that. So, we’ll be working with both with Metro Vancouver and the Mayors’ Council and I’m very pleased that the members of Metro Vancouver and the Mayors’ council that talked on the phone all agreed something has to be done. My position is that this timeline is unacceptable to myself and the people of Delta,” he added.
The province last week had its long-awaited announcement regarding the future of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project by Trevena and consultant Stan Cowdell, confirming the bridge project initiated by the previous Liberal government won’t be moving ahead.
Cowdell’s report concluded a 10-lane bridge was not the best way to go, suggesting options could include a smaller six or eight lane bridge or an eight-lane tunnel. The existing tunnel could also remain as part of the future solution.
Trevena said there will be interim upgrades to the existing tunnel and road system costing $40 million, money that will be “absolutely well spent”.
Former premier Christy Clark announced in 2012 that a new crossing would be built to relieve the worst traffic bottleneck in the province and a year later she announced a new bridge was selected as the project that would go forward. It took until 2017 when construction was about to begin but the project was halted when the new Green-backed NDP government halted things and later announced a review.
