It's been over a year since the premier announced to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) that we would have a new bridge over the Fraser River to replace the George Massey Tunnel. In her announcement, a photo of the Alex Fraser Bridge was superimposed over the crossing, giving the impression that planning was quite advanced.
Ever the curious type, I inquired of the premier's office about the basis for the announcement as the topic had gone silent after a very preliminary public consultation months earlier. After filing a freedom of information request, I was informed that "no records were located."
So did the premier make this up out of thin air? Was she committing the province to a $3 billion or more project by saying, "We have the ability to finance it"?
Quite recently, I was able to speak with head of the project, the same person who headed up the South Fraser Perimeter Road. He explained the need was evident, that several engineering reports had been done in the past and that the bridge would be preferable. However, no business/economics case for this option was done then or now.
The tunnel, our faithful servant for over five decades, is indeed showing its age. Aside from the sloppy cleaning and painting project that appears stalled right now, it will need extensive repairs and refurbishment if to be used for much longer.
More important, though, is that Ministry of Transportation says there is no science or engineering on how to make it earthquake proof.
Several have said the port wants the tunnel gone so as to allow bigger ships to sail up the Fraser. The port denies this by saying bigger ships couldn't turn around up the river.
The future use of the "abandoned" tunnel is unknown. Transit is not an option due the risk of collapse in an earthquake. Removal will add a significant cost to the project.
Meanwhile, a bridge of unknown capacity is being designed and constructed over the same routing as the tunnel. How many lanes, how much dedicated for HOV/transit? It's all yet to be announced.
The cost is yet to be estimated (guessed at). The premier said B.C. could afford the bridge. But what does that mean for you and me? Will the congestion tax referendum cover this? No, the bridge will belong to Ministry of Transportation, not like the Pattullo Bridge, which belongs to TransLink.
So who picks up the tab? Will it be tolled? Yes! Will it be a PPP like the Port Mann and Golden Ears where B.C. is paying for revenue shortfalls? So, can we afford it?
The premier, in her announcement to UBCM, said she hoped these matters would be settled by referendum. What does that mean to us as residents of South Delta?
