Premiere Christy Clark’s “vanity bridge” adventure is hurtling the wrong way. Can anyone save the day? Superman? Batman?
Richmond can!
Councillors Harold Steves, Carol Day, Linda McPhail and Mayor Malcolm Brodie have enlisted Metro Vancouver and other allies, as well as the public, to get through to our current premier or, if necessary, the next one.
They’re also seeking a federal environmental assessment. This is crucial and urgent.
But a change requires an alternative. Luckily, a prior BC Liberal government developed a better plan than Clark’s.
To begin, the BC Liberal plan assumes the seismic upgrade of the existing Massey Tunnel will be completed. (A decade ago, the upgrade stalled after the internal phase, leaving tunnel users at undue risk until the external phase gets done.)
The external seismic upgrade will stabilize the ground around the existing tunnel and its approaches. It should benefit from advances in methods in the lost years, as well as insights from recent seismic analysis for bridge purposes.
Beyond that, the plan envisions an added two-lane tunnel tube, better interchanges and overpasses, and an extensive transit strategy.
The transit aspect features a high-capacity Rapid Bus route on Highway 99 between White Rock and Bridgeport, with a dedicated lane each way for “clean energy buses” and emergency vehicles.
Shoulder bus lanes have gradually appeared along the highway. The present need is for many more buses, along with related transit action such as a big increase in Canada Line capacity. That would reduce car use, freeing road space for other transport.
The new tunnel tube will be placed in a new trench, a little east of the current tube, though still seen as part of the Massey Tunnel.
The new tube will have to be installed in time to replace the legacy tube when it undergoes major renovations, closing a pair of lanes at a time. After that, there will be six good lanes.
By now, it’s apparent that Christy Clark’s bridge adventure would cost more than stated, but even the stated $3.5 billion could fund the original BC Liberal plan very well with a couple of billion to spare. (No need for tolls.)
As well, pre-empting the cost overrun of the Christy plan could provide funding for seismic retrofit of B.C. schools. That might save many families from tragedy.
Also vital: While the Christy plan would assist deep dredging of the Fraser ship channel, the BC Liberal plan deters it. That averts severe harm to the river’s ecology, including already-stressed salmon runs, and to the river delta’s agriculture, including Richmond’s.
It’s time to move on from the “vanity bridge,” a towering symbol made of folly.
The alternative, the dusted-off Liberal plan, is feasible, and it will enable efficient cross-river trips. If they’re pleasant, reliable and safe for all kinds of users, that will be success.
Jim Wright is a longtime Richmond
community activist
