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Letters: Massey Tunnel is not an exception when it comes to snow

The reality is numerous media outlets reported the Massey Tunnel was closed Tuesday during heavy snow for a period of time
delta massey tunnel interior new

Editor:
Re:Letters: Tuesday’s snowstorm proved why a tunnel is better than bridge

The author makes some claims about the Massey Tunnel that need a reality check.
 He claims the tunnel “always” remains open during adverse weather conditions, “never” needs snow to be removed to be passable, “never” needs road salt to be applied, and has no five-hour waits because of (falling) ice. 
The reality is numerous media outlets reported the Massey Tunnel was closed Tuesday during heavy snow for a period of time. Snow does fall from large trucks and other vehicles while in the tunnel so it’s very possible that some snow did need to be removed, also at the tunnel entrance and exit points snow does accumulate and needs to be cleared. 
In fact, it is possible that at the tunnel entrance point snow can become packed or a layer of ice forms such that large semi-trucks or double decker busses could exceed the tunnel posted maximum entrance height of 4.15m. I’m not sure if it “never” needs salt applied but I would be surprised if that were true.
Perhaps the Lower Mainland does not have enough snowplows or commuter drivers are not prepared for winter driving regardless of bridges or tunnels. This isn’t Toronto and we don’t have 10 snowplow trucks assigned to each bridge or tunnel. Perhaps the rate and volume of snow was so high that even 10 snowplows wouldn’t be enough.
But for the author to suggest that somehow a tunnel is better than a bridge in heavy snow is a stretch and likely misinformation.
Keith Munro