Three city councillors — Carol Day, Harold Steves and Chak Au — voted against the notion that the City of Richmond ought to state any project criteria for the planned bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel.
“We have to make the province understand that removing the George Massey Tunnel is not an option,” stated Coun. Carol Day, Monday night at a council meeting.
Others disagreed, stating the city should at least have its say, granted the provincial government has unilaterally decided to build the bridge.
At issue, is how the province may interpret the city's demands as an endorsement of the bridge, when in fact the city has not explicitly endorsed it.
Among some of the objectives the city is seeking, via council's direction, is to have an "iconic bridge" with bike and HOV lanes.
“I would agree with their (Steves, Au and Day) interpretation that they’re against it,” however, “we want to analyze the project with the pre-approved criteria,” stated Mayor Malcolm Brodie, who opposes removing the tunnel and is concerned about Oak Street Bridge congestion after the new bridge is built.
Brodie also believes the bridge will open up the river to mass industrialization (LNG, jet fuel, and coal shipments, to name a few planned projects).
However, "we have to get our oar in the water," said Coun. Ken Johnston reluctantly.
The vote came in conjunction with a city report that asked council to continue to liaise with the provincial government regarding its 10-year transportation plan.
