For people northbound in the Massey Tunnel last month, there was a leak spraying in the tunnel which most motorists acclimated to Vancouver rain storms simply drove through. It was a leak from the fire suppression system.
But kudos to the Delta Optimist’s Sandor Gyarmati who scooped up and put together the best leak of the week, and that is that we will be hearing about the final decision on the Massey Tunnel replacement. That makes complete sense, as the Provincial government promised a decision this Fall, and this is the last week those kind of announcements can be made before the Christmas and New Years holiday time.
I have been writing about the twists and turns as the Massey Tunnel replacement has been politically batted around in Victoria. From a plethora of options the Ministry of Transportation earlier this year announced that there were two alternatives being considered. There would be a tunnel or a bridge, both with eight lanes. There would be dedicated lane for transit vehicles.
Mr. Gyarmati had spoken in October with Bruce Reid, who ran for the New Democratic party unsuccessfully in Delta South. Happily Mr. Reid had divulged that it was 95 percent certain the alternative chosen is a new tunnel option. This option means that there is a gentle enough grade for the eventual installation of rail transit, there will be no flying cloverleafs usurping up land area, and the subdivision at Captain’s Cove will not be overlooked by bridge infrastructure.
The tunnel option has already been endorsed by the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation, Metro Vancouver, and the Cities of Richmond and Delta.
Of course the next challenge is figuring out the scheduling and who is going to pay for the new tunnel. The pandemic has had a financial hit on the Provincial coffers, and with no bridge tolling finances can’t be recouped that way. There may be less pressure for a timely replacement if former commuters are willing to work more from home and commute less to work post pandemic, as the latest survey from Marion Canseco suggests.
Just knowing for sure that the Province will be finally choosing an option is a good way to end this pandemic year.
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Need an overall transportation plan for the Lower Mainland. This project is not the top project, it will encourage urban sprawl.