Skip to content

Son of tunnel's namesake challenges new MLA on his crossing comments

Editor: Re: Liberals are still committed to bridge, June 28 Liberals are still trying to mislead the public with the statements made by our new MLA Ian Paton to justify the removal and replacement of the George Massey Tunnel.

Editor: Re: Liberals are still committed to bridge, June 28

Liberals are still trying to mislead the public with the statements made by our new MLA Ian Paton to justify the removal and replacement of the George Massey Tunnel. I will not let them get away with those statements.

1. It is not a beat up old tunnel; it is a tunnel whose maintenance has been ignored.

2. The proper lighting together with ceramic tile has been botched from day one.

3. Traffic control to avoid changing of lanes within the tunnel has been non-existent.

4. No attempt has been made to require the port to open for container truck movements 24/7 to ease the rush hour traffic or even request it schedule truck movements to avoid rush hour.

5. Why did the former Liberal minister of transportation advocate that another tunnel just upriver was the best alternative and that the George Massey Tunnel was good for another 50 years?

6. Why is the City of Rotterdam spending $376 million to upgrade the Maas River Tunnel this year, a tunnel that was constructed 16 years before the George Massey Tunnel using the same type of materials and design? The Liberals have stated it would cost $45 million to bring the tunnel up to today's safety requirements. Would this not be money well spent? It would also eliminate the requirement to remove the BC Hydro lines from the tunnel at a cost of $67 million.

If our new MLA had taken the time to read how the contractors for the George Massey Tunnel co-ordinated with the Port of New Westminster, he would know they always kept the channel open whenever it was required while installing the tunnel sections without any disruption of shipping.

He must also realize there is more of an environmental concern with the constant dredging by the Port of Vancouver to meet present depths than there ever would be for any short-term dredging required for installation of an immersed tunnel.

I would hope that any future statements made are based on facts.

Douglas George Massey