Bridge plan raises ire

By Dan Hilborn
Published June 4, 2005


A provincial government plan to twin the Port Mann Bridge and possibly double the amount of traffic on Highway No. 1 through Burnaby came under fire at the May 30 city council meeting.

Coun. Nick Volkow, a truck driver by trade, said there may be some worthwhile components to the three-pronged Provincial Gateway Program, but the proposal does not adequately address concerns over congestion on Burnaby streets or increased pollution or meet the standards of the GVRD's Livable Region Strategy.

"I think the main point is that we really need to get a dialogue going with the provincial government regarding the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge," Volkow said.

"Our worry is primarily with the influx of commuter traffic and its impact on the environment, pollution and congestion.

"I am not in favour of increased growth in the Fraser Valley at the cost of our agricultural areas," Volkow said.

According to a report from the city's planning and building department, the full scope of the Gateway program is only now coming to light. In addition to the twinning of the Port Mann bridge, the plan would widen Highway No. 1 to eight lanes through Burnaby, add two more lanes to the Vancouver section of the road and build two new truck routes - a north and south perimeter road.

The south perimeter road would exit from Highway No. 1 in the Port Kells area of Surrey and follow the river through the city of Delta, where it would turn south towards Tsawwassen. The north perimeter road would add a third westbound lane to the Lougheed Highway from Maple Ridge to a new six-lane Pitt River Bridge.

Coun. Sav Dhaliwal said the proposals seem to be tailored to the needs of communities on the south side of the Fraser River, but not for the north side.

"This is quite at odds with the GVRD's Livable Region Strategy," Dhaliwal said, noting that concerns are now being expressed by city councils in New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Vancouver and Burnaby.

"There just doesn't seem to be a proper business plan for this proposal," said Dhaliwal, noting the total plan could cost upward of $3 billion.

Mayor Derek Corrigan said there is an element of deception in the proposal to twin the old Port Mann Bridge with a new toll bridge.

In order for the province's plan to work, the province will have to leave a non-toll alternative available, meaning commuters who refuse to pay the $2 to $3 toll in each direction will start to congest other roads.

Corrigan also noted that Richmond, which is not impacted by either of the three components to the project, has indicated its support for the plan.

"Maybe we could reciprocate by calling for a new four-lane bridge to their community," said the mayor.

Coun. Doug Evans said he is worried the new widened highway could become a "dinosaur" that will require the rebuilding of every highway overpass in Burnaby, and have possible detrimental impacts on Stoney Creek, which has slowly been brought back to life over the past two decades.

Coun. Pietro Calendino said road plans are simply a political gift for Liberal-friendly municipal politicians on the south side of the Fraser River.

"They are basically violating all of the precepts of the Livable Region Strategy and they are allowing sprawl all over the place," Calendino said. "I think the only way to solve the problem is to ensure there's consultation with communities on the north, east, south and west of the Fraser River. Hopefully, they won't just listen to the residents of Surrey."

Coun. Dan Johnston said the whole issue could be avoided if the province supported the use of rapid transit lines for commuters and truck routes for the movement of goods and services.