Editor: Before more controversy breaks out on all the specific issues surrounding a new bridge and the existing tunnel, I would like the people of Delta, and even the taxpayers of B.C., to have a hard look at what is really happening.
When I spent six years fighting the route of the South Fraser Perimeter Road, we were told by the Ministry of Transportation that a tunnel replacement was 40 years away, so our proposal was to keep the cars and trucks separated and move the trucks crossing the Fraser River to the Alex Fraser Bridge. In our opinion, and from the example of the truckers' strike, we felt the tunnel could be tolerated for those years if the trucks were removed from it.
Then last year Liberal candidate Bruce McDonald proclaimed that if he was elected "he" would work to get us a new bridge. Remember the signs on Highway 17? Well, South Delta elected Vicki Huntington and now 30 years ahead of schedule the Liberals announce we're getting a new bridge. Now one has to ask oneself:
Does Huntington have that kind of influence in Victoria?
Did the premier really feel that sympathetic towards the commuters of South Delta?
Did Victoria just find a billion dollars for another bridge?
Did the results of those few public meetings the Liberals had regarding the tunnel replacement lead them to immediately start designing a new bridge?
After extensive debate in the legislature, did our MLAs decide this was the right thing to do for British Columbia? I'm inclined to answer "no" to all those questions.
So then I ask myself:
Why didn't the Liberals announce this bridge during the last election? Did they know the rest of the Lower Mainland municipalities and B.C. taxpayers wouldn't like it?
Was McDonald told before the election about the upcoming bridge so he could be the local champion when the bridge was announced? I'm inclined to answer "yes" to those questions.
Politics aside, why are they proposing a new bridge crossing?
Is it because there have been exhaustive traffic studies that mandate a new bridge?
Do the number of commuters from the 40,000 people living in Tsawwassen and Ladner make a new billion-dollar bridge absolutely necessary for B.C.?
Is there something catastrophically wrong with the tunnel structure that requires its replacement as soon as possible?
Are the towns of Tsawwassen and Ladner set to grow by tens of thousands of people?
Has ferry traffic grown by leaps and bounds?
I'm inclined to answer "no" to all those questions.
My opinion is the only reason this bridge is being proposed is for the trucks from the port because:
The port is going to expand and we, the people, cannot stop it.
The number of trucks per day would make the tunnel almost impassable.
The port at sometime will go to 24/7 operations and again the number of trucks on the highway will be phenomenal, and in the dark prone to accidents in the tunnel.
Some might say build a bridge for the trucks and leave the tunnel for the cars.
It makes sense, but it will never happen. There is not enough water depth over the tunnel to allow today's ships to enter the Fraser River and access the Surrey Fraser Docks. The revenue and tonnage is way down from what it could be if the restriction of the tunnel was removed.
My conclusion is the Liberal government is building a billion-dollar bridge the people of Delta don't really need and the taxpayers of B.C. can't afford. The people of Delta will probably be tolled to cross this bridge, TransLink will raise its invoice to Delta because of this wonderful new bridge and taxpayers all over B.C. will subsidize it in some manner.
My proposal: Since the only group that really benefits from this bridge and the removal of the tunnel is Port Metro Vancouver, let it pay for it. Let the port argue why the people of Delta and taxpayers of B.C. should pay for the infrastructure to move its trucks and ships, which is a problem of its own making.
The rest of Canada benefits everyday from the turmoil the port creates for us so why not tell the federal government the port needs money to build the infrastructure that international trade creates.
The people of Prince George need this bridge as much as the people of Delta, which isn't very much, so I don't see why any of us should have to pay a nickel towards it.
As always, the provincial Liberals are not telling the truth, constantly treat us like mushrooms and continue to drive B.C. further into debt for their friends.
That's my two cents!
Greg Hoover
