On Friday, Metro Vancouver鈥檚 board endorsed the proposed eight-lane tunnel replacement for the Massey Tunnel. Source: Source: Ministry of Transportation report
Metro Vancouver鈥檚 board endorsed on Friday a proposed eight-lane immersed-tube tunnel to replace the aging Massey Tunnel, but added on nine conditions including potential future light rail.
The nine conditions聽聽written by Metro 麻豆传媒映画mayors and two First Nations鈥� chiefs in March, addressed to B.C. Premier John Horgan.
Richmond Coun. Harold Steves asked the board to highlight the need for light rail in its endorsement of the tunnel, pointing out the mayors鈥� letter was strongly in favour of light rail transit.
鈥淎nd that鈥檚 the main issue. Are we going to have future LRT or not?鈥� he said.
Other conditions include addressing First Nations鈥� concerns about the river and the impact to fisheries as well as Richmond, Delta and Vancouver鈥檚 concerns about potential traffic and land use impacts - such as to the Oak Street Bridge and agricultural land. Another condition is that the replacement be completed by 2026-2027.
Delta Mayor George Harvie asked the board to send the letter to the province along with its endorsement.
鈥淚 feel it鈥檚 very important that the contents of this letter be included in a letter to the premier with regards to what this board would ask them to consider,鈥� said Harvie.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see this sent over as soon as possible, and let the premier get to work on fixing the worst traffic congestion we have in the region at this time.鈥�
The board鈥檚 endorsement follows last month鈥檚 recommendation of an eight-lane immersed-tube tunnel by a task force made up of Metro 麻豆传媒映画mayors last month. Two of the lanes will be dedicated to transit.
Only Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Ken Baird voted against the Oct. 4 motion, citing environmental concerns.
An immersed-tube tunnel is composed of segments that are constructed elsewhere before being floated to the tunnel site, then sunk into place and linked together.
This option would have the large short-term environmental impacts, with excavation on both the Richmond and Delta sides of the Fraser River during construction, but lower long-term impacts.
The new tunnel will need to undergo an environmental assessment, which would take three years. After that, construction would take five years.
It鈥檚 been a long road to replace the tunnel, which opened in 1959. In 2017, the provincial NDP government scrapped the previous B.C. Liberal government鈥檚 planned 10-lane bridge following an independent report.
The board will now recommend the option to the province. The project will then go to public consultation.
