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It might not be photo-op worthy, but tunnel lighting needs work

Editor: After being injured in the George Massey Tunnel last year, I have pointed out deficiencies in this tunnel's design. The existing lighting and approaches are inadequate and do not conform to modern guidelines. Visit www.tincuongthanh.

Editor:

After being injured in the George Massey Tunnel last year, I have pointed out deficiencies in this tunnel's design. The existing lighting and approaches are inadequate and do not conform to modern guidelines.

Visit www.tincuongthanh.com in order to see current tunnel and overpass lighting criteria in use worldwide. No tunnels like ours are on this website as it has been obsolete for 30 years

Current criteria take into account transition from daylight, reflectivity of tunnel walls, continuous lighting and proximity to interchanges as well as the "black widow effect" that measures the percentage of a vehicle as seen against the tunnel exit. Modern lighting design eliminates the possibility of a small car unable to be seen behind a large truck (as was the case in my accident)

I have compiled a list of cases heard in the Supreme Court of B.C. in which death and injury have occurred in the tunnel and it is appalling. Taking into account the damage to vehicles and lost time, the cost of this tunnel over its lifespan is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. My accident resulted in the write off of three vehicles.

How much longer are the taxpayers who use this tunnel willing to tolerate the reckless neglect shown by ICBC the Ministry of Transportation, TransLink and the Corporation of Delta by failing to address this issue?

Perhaps it is time some enterprising law firm takes up this cause and files a class action suit on behalf of the motorists that have been killed and injured, had vehicles totaled or damaged, missed flights and appointments, not to mention the millions of dollars gone up in smoke by idling vehicles.

I concur with Krishna Sangara Hayle's letter of April 4 in which Lois Jackson's inaction on this file is mentioned. Indeed, why do the voters return this ineffective mayor and council to power given their apparent disinterest?

Of course, making some simple improvements to the tunnel is not as exciting or sexy as building a new LRT line for Vancouver and there will probably be no great "photo-op" or ribbon cutting ceremony. It is just a small step to make life better and safer for us lowly citizens.

As P.J. O'Rourke once said: "Everybody wants to save the world but nobody wants to help mom with the dishes."

Come on ICBC, Ministry of Transportation, TransLink and Delta.

I know it's boring and beneath your interest, but just this once, won't you children help mom with the dishes?

Mike McConnell