In the 1960s many old timers, myself included, were perplexed when the entrance to the village of Ladner via Trunk Road was cut off and traffic directed onto Elliott Street and 47A Avenue.
The shopping centres on the north and south side of Trunk Road and east of Chilukthan Slough had not been developed yet, so shoppers wishing to access village stores and businesses did so by an indirect route and continued to drive into the downtown core.
The theory of a pedestrianfriendly shopping experience fizzled. We were, and remain, a vehicle-dependent society, at least south of the Fraser River. Even Vancouver, with its transit system, recently re-opened Granville Street to car traffic, recognizing its failure of a similar traffic design.
Ladner's intersection was modified over time but remained in place. As population increased, traffic became more of a problem. The intersection known as the "Bermuda Triangle" remained a source of irritation without logic or benefit.
At the outset, business in the village was affected but over time this traffic pattern was grudgingly accepted. In the past few years, word was out that a major overhaul of the intersection was in the planning stage. Direct access to the core was apparently not an option but traffic flow needed addressing.
A European-style "roundabout" was dismissed. I understand there was a concern over truck traffic and tight turn radius in the space available.
After experiencing a lengthy construction phase, we have an eerily similar intersection with more lanes, an oddly functioning traffic light system, poorly designed vehicular access from Trunk Road to Elliott Street, conflicted by pedestrian access with short sight lines.
Let's hope the learning curve and design flaws sort themselves out safely. I won't even mention cyclist access.
On a larger scale, traffic patterns on highways 10, 17 and 99 all change on Dec. 1 as a result of the opening of the South Fraser Perimeter Road. We'll just be comfortable with this traffic pattern when construction starts in 2017 for the new bridge replacing the George Massey Tunnel.
It remains to be seen and experienced how a bridge can be erected above the tunnel over three years and allow north/south traffic to function efficiently at peak hours. Fortunately I'll be long retired as a regular user of the tunnel.
Metro Vancouver mayors have a responsibility for a regional traffic plan. Having said that, there is little likelihood of mayors north of the Fraser River having motivation to address north/south commuter traffic not of their constituency. Without their cooperation of reconstructing east/west flows at Steveston Highway and possibly Blundell Road and the Oak Street Bridge, there is no benefit for the vehicle commuter south of the river without mass transit.
North/south traffic will continue to suffer. I have empathy for residents of Marina Gardens and the Riverhouse enclave during the construction phase and beyond. It's hard to find anything positive to say about our traffic problems, now or in the future.
And a good night to you, Hagel.
