Editor:
I would like to suggest there be tolling put on the South Fraser Perimeter Road at its terminus - the Roberts Bank port and the Tsawwassen First Nation industrial complex.
One of the primary purposes of the road, as stated in government's project goals, is to provide a route for heavy trucks and access to major trade gateways.
This should come at a price to the trucking industries, not the average taxpayer or commuter. The trucks should be tolled for their use of these facilities and to pay for them.
In fact, Tsawwassen residents will be involuntarily diverted onto the South Fraser Perimeter Road as Highway 17 is being downgraded and will only have single-lane access. This is something most residents will not be pleased about as it will add about five kilometres and 10 minutes to their daily commute through the George Massey Tunnel.
While I am writing, I would also like to bring to attention the useless destruction of the old Port Mann Bridge. It has a 40year engineering life left in it, it is probably worth $1 billion and could at the very least be used to handle the overflow while the Pattullo Bridge is being replaced or upgraded.
Tearing down the Port Mann Bridge will probably even cost about $30 million.
John Hutton
