Vancouver General Discussion Thread - Page 10

Klazu · #**181** Posted **Sep 19, 2015, 2:45 AM**

On the other hand, Sunshine Coast would be much closer to Vancouver than Squamish for example is. It is currently a pretty inexpensive place to live, so many might consider moving there and commuting to Vancouver.

But yeah, the outcome is likely something along those lines you mention. Cheapest option is likely building a new road along the shoreline from Squamish, but that is highly inconvenient for traffic. Building a bridge through two islands in middle of the sound is likely the most practical, but also expensive option.

There was also a third option to build a road that would head through the mountains west of Squamish (there is some kind of remote valley in there) and then route it back to Sunshine Coast somewhere around Egmont. That would be very expensive and also highly impractical option so I am not sure why they are even considering it. Would make for a beautiful drive, though.

Infrequent Poster · #**182** Posted **Sep 19, 2015, 3:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

On the other hand, Sunshine Coast would be much closer to Vancouver than Squamish for example is. It is currently a pretty inexpensive place to live, so many might consider moving there and commuting to Vancouver.

But yeah, the outcome is likely something along those lines you mention. Cheapest option is likely building a new road along the shoreline from Squamish, but that is highly inconvenient for traffic. Building a bridge through two islands in middle of the sound is likely the most practical, but also expensive option.

There was also a third option to build a road that would head through the mountains west of Squamish (there is some kind of remote valley in there) and then route it back to Sunshine Coast somewhere around Egmont. That would be very expensive and also highly impractical option so I am not sure why they are even considering it. Would make for a beautiful drive, though.

I would be interested to see the route that would bring it into Egmont. As this would mean they would need to build a bridge across sechelt inlet as well. Though the inlet is fairly narrow near the Skookumchuck narrows. I would assume this is where they would cross as its the narrowest point (I believe). Still cant see how this would cost anything less then a completely absurd amount. Also I wonder if a road like that would even be able to be kept open in the winter time? Or if it was able to be kept open it would probably require again alot of money in the budget for snow removal (unless we keep getting winters such as the last one).

Egmont is on the northern tip of the peninsula and about as far from any of the population centres of the sunshine coast as one can be. At least an hour from Sechelt and an hour and a half from Gibsons. The road from Egmont back to highway 101 (the north south highway on the sunshine coast) would also require a 100% rebuild and re-alignment. As it is a goat trail like you have never seen.

Do you have a link to these plans? Would be curious to check them out.

st7860 · #**183** Posted **Sep 19, 2015, 3:34 AM**

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/publications/reports_and_studies/fixed_link/fixed_link.htm the estimate was about $200 per one way trip.....

Klazu · #**184** Posted **Sep 19, 2015, 3:34 AM**

They are only starting the planning, so I doubt any material exists yet. I was only referring to the map I saw on Global BC. They don't have it on their website.

I was in Egmont on May long weekend. It's a lovely village, but it's a long drive to Sechelt. The road is in good shape, but it is just slow. Takes an hour to traverse 60 kilometers. Linking the mainland with Egmont would thus make no sense and I think they are just entertaining the option to perhaps make the other two looks more viable.

Klazu · #**185** Posted **Sep 19, 2015, 3:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by st7860

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/publications/reports_and_studies/fixed_link/fixed_link.htm the estimate was about $200 per one way trip.....

The discussion is about Vancouver - Sunshine Coast. Not to Vancouver Island.

But thinking about it, perhaps the only reason they are even exploring this is to ultimately build a road connection to Vancouver Island? Who knows...

SpongeG · #**186** Posted **Sep 20, 2015, 9:42 AM**

my friends were considering moving to the sunshine coast and commuting, the houses are so cheap there, i wonder how fast prices would rise with better connections, its really beautiful there

st7860 · #**187** Posted **Sep 20, 2015, 3:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

my friends were considering moving to the sunshine coast and commuting, the houses are so cheap there, i wonder how fast prices would rise with better connections, its really beautiful there

Exactly, however many people do not want a bridge for that same reason - they want to remain rural

Bdawe · #**188** Posted **Sep 20, 2015, 5:55 PM**

I wouldn't be so opposed to such a project if I thought we could do it right, but you know we can't. The bridge can only pay back it's costs if there's a lot of development on the west end. That development will be car dependent sprawl, requiring huge amounts of further infrastructure investments while clogging up the existing infrastructure on this side of the Sound. The Lions Gate Bridge isn't getting any wider.

Simply put, it would be foolish to add a huge new area to the metropolitan area in such a way that all those who dwell there would be by design dependent on their cars to get around.

Klazu · #**189** Posted **Sep 20, 2015, 7:32 PM**

VanCityBuzz has this map, showing where the shallow places for a crossing are. There are some deep places below the Howe Sound with 250 meters of water! I would love to see a similar map of the Strait of Georgia.

They are also talking about a similar project taking place in Norway: www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/09/sunshine-coast-bridge-metro-vancouver/

Klazu · #**190** Posted **Sep 20, 2015, 7:36 PM**

Also on the topic: https://sunshinecoastconnector.wordpress.com/

Millennium2002 · #**191** Posted **Sep 20, 2015, 9:42 PM**

I can't see a suspended tunnel working out at all... it'd be expensive to implement, and we don't have the same amount of money that Norway has to fund all of its projects. Also, people have been proposing suspended tunnels for forever and yet no project of this nature has actually come to fruition yet...

A bridge at location #3, however? Totally doable. In fact I hope that they build it with a hollow under-truss deck, so that it can accommodate trains or extra lanes in the future... If we're actually going to be building this, we should do it right the first time.

As for a fixed link to Vancouver Island... the only approach I see working is building a long road and a series of bridges between Powell River and Campbell River. Such a detour would not be of convenience to people heading to/from Nanaimo or Victoria, but it could help economically diversify the northern part of the island via more reliable shipping connections. (And it should also accommodate single-track rail, imo)

cornholio · #**192** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 2:54 AM**

I go up to the sunshine coast about twice a month on average. A fixed link should have been built decades ago. The most cost effective link would be #3. The other options would be difficult due to crazy island nimby's and more importantly 200 + meter depths that would need long spans, or floating tunnels. A fixed link should be built within the next decade. It would pay for itself and benefit the province economically.

Bdawe · #**193** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 3:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cornholio

I go up to the sunshine coast about twice a month on average. A fixed link should have been built decades ago. The most cost effective link would be #3. The other options would be difficult due to crazy island nimby's and more importantly 200 + meter depths that would need long spans, or floating tunnels. A fixed link should be built within the next decade. It would pay for itself and benefit the province economically.

How would it pay for itself?

st7860 · #**194** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 4:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdawe

How would it pay for itself?

Exactly. Even the confederation bridge, nearing 20 years of age still has to have tolls of around $50 per car, and that was a much cheaper design due to the local geography.

GeeCee · #**195** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 4:27 AM**

Do major infrastructure projects need to 'pay for themselves'? Isn't this what we have taxes for? User pay is awful.

Infrequent Poster · #**196** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 4:34 AM**

I think a fact that is being overlooked here (aside from the fact that the cost vs the population will never allow this to be built) is how opposed the local population will be to a link to the lowermainland. The sunshine coast is not an island but its geographic location has made it one even if by definition it isnt. I really dont see it as any different then trying to build a bridge to Saltspring or Bowen Island. The locals would want no part of it.

Metro-One · #**197** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 11:20 AM**

I have several family members living on the sunshine coast along with a few other connections, and from my anecdotal experiences people on the Sunshine Coast generally have a more favorable opinion towards a fixed link than people on the Gulf Islands. They generally want to open up economic opportunities more and have more direct access to Vancouver.

Having lived in Japan for years now and having worked / traveled through Europe and US (where there are many areas with even smaller populations / population densities that have major bridges / tunnels acting as fixed links) there is no reason not to build such a link to the Sunshine Coast.

There is an amazing lack of bridges and tunnels in BC considering its topography and that it is part of a first world industrialized nation.

In a fantasy world option 1 is the best choice, but giving some realism option 3 is more than suitable.

If built the Sea to Sky should be upgraded to full free flow standards to the bridge approach. (which it almost is, just a few tweaks needed to be done).

WarrenC12 · #**198** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 3:35 PM**

But... will it be tolled?

Metro-One · #**199** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 3:39 PM**

If built, I am betting yes, as I feel such a structure should be.

Again, such similar links in Japan and Europe usually come with a decent sized toll (for example the bridge near where I live ranges between 15 and 25 dollars depending on whether or not you are signed into the toll program).

red-paladin · #**200** Posted **Sep 21, 2015, 4:16 PM**

No one would complain as long as the toll is cheaper than the ferry anyway.
(No one in their right mind)