Dear Editor,
Re: “Be smarter with Massey Tunnel,” Letters, April 6.
Coun. Carol Day has articulated very well the argument for upgrading the Massey Tunnel (rather than replacing it with a massive bridge) in her letter.
So far, the provincial government seems to be determined to go ahead with the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project.
The City of Richmond will be one of the most adversely affected communities if the new bridge project goes ahead.
The decision-makers in Victoria seem to be oblivious to the concerns of citizens.
It must be emphasized that the proposed $3.5 billion tunnel replacement bridge is not the best solution to address the traffic tie-ups on Highway 99.
All this new bridge will do is move the traffic jam from south of the existing tunnel to the north.
The bottleneck at the Oak Street Bridge may get even worse.
There is little doubt that Richmond will have to bear the brunt of the traffic congestion around this proposed new bridge.
Richmond City Council and a large number of Richmond citizens have expressed very serious concerns about the George Massy Tunnel Replacement Project.
Some of the concerns, such as its impact on the environment, the loss of very productive farmland, as well as the fact that the tolls are going to hurt ordinary citizens, don’t seem to be going anywhere.
The provincial government, especially the minister of transportation, must take these concerns into account before proceeding any further with this very expensive project.
There must be better ways to rectify the worsening traffic jams around the tunnel other than the proposed this massive tolled structure.
Balwant Sanghera
Richmond
