Editor:
Not sure how to answer Ingrid Abbott’s negative comments about the $40 million improvements to the George Massey Tunnel (Community Comment, Optimist, March 18) and the concern that it will delay the building of second tunnel beside it, but I will try.
Perhaps a new tunnel could have been built in 2013 if the provincial government of the day had adhered to the recommendations by tunnel engineering consultants. They recommended that a new tunnel be built next to the George Massey Tunnel and improvements could be made to tunnel that would increase the height internally, provide a safety exit, improve the lighting and increase the depth of the water for shipping.
She comments about the age of the tunnel being 62 years. Perhaps if the tunnel had been lined with white ceramic tile as was initially proposed you would not see the gray colored cement and the lighting would even have been better. Even with the better lighting the chance of accidents will lesson and there will be at least a better increase in the flow of traffic.
When it comes to age, the Maas River Tunnel that was built in 1938 by the same builders who built the George Massey Tunnel is now 83 years old and in 2017-2019 was renovated at a cost of 262 Euros ($311,963,400.00 U.S.) as they said it was still cheaper than having to build another crossing being a bridge or tunnel.
I cannot agree that if spending $40 million to make the George Massey Tunnel safer in the interim, is nothing but a delay to committing to a new crossing sooner that what is needed.
Anything that is done to improve the safety of people should be considered a positive move and not be politicized in a negative manner as shown by the writer.
Douglas George Massey
