I reviewed the politics and policies of upgrading or replacing the George Massey Tunnel in my last column. In 2006, then transportation minister Kevin Falcon said the tunnel was a low priority and would be addressed in a decade or two. Last September, Premier Christy Clark said the tunnel is now a high priority and will be addressed in 10 to 15 years. Such is the progress of this important local issue in Victoria.
What can be done on a smaller scale and in a shorter time to alleviate tunnel congestion?
The essential problems with the tunnel are: (1) four lanes have to merge into two near each end; and 2) traffic cannot maintain speed under congested conditions. The Steveston Highway exit backup now often extends into the tunnel in the morning rush, thereby eliminating the extra capacity provided by the counterflow lane.
We need some creative thinking on this problem. Obviously the entire Steveston Highway exit needs to be redone. The Steveston exit should be closed completely and a new higher capacity exit built at Blundell as soon as possible.
In the shorter term, the traffic lights at Steveston Highway should allow continuous flow westward in the morning as far as Coppersmith with the left turn onto No. 5 Road removed. The backup lane can be lengthened by going through the old tourist centre, thereby providing extra storage.
Northbound, the Highway 99 traffic from Surrey should all be directed to the counterflow and left lane so the inefficient merge lane from Highway 17 can be improved. The aligner is far too long, so that Delta traffic has to make a sharp left at the end of it to merge.
Removing the last 100 to 200 metres of the lane divider would enhance the merge process.
Southbound flow into the tunnel is generally better, but the merge at Steveston Highway should be closed during congested periods or, better, altogether. The on-ramp should be at Blundell so traffic is not merging near the entrance to the tunnel.
When, or if, the South Fraser Perimeter Road is ever completed then all truck traffic on existing Highway 17 can be required to use it. There should be no need at all for a semi to use the tunnel to get to or from Richmond, Burnaby or Vancouver.
Further, all traffic to Tilbury should be able to access it by the SFPR, so the southbound ramp from River Road onto Highway 99 north can also be closed during congestion periods or altogether.
That way the merging near the entrance to the tunnel can be minimized.
While it is evident the capacity of the current tunnel needs to be doubled at least, it is also evident the current provincial government does not intend to provide that scale of relief for a decade or two.
I submit that lesser improvements and changes such as these could save millions of wasted hours in traffic in the medium and short terms, and that the Ministry of Transportation should consider them.
