It's interesting that you guys mentioned the Stormont-Macbride connector.
I sent Minister Falcon a question about that a while ago, and I just got a reply:
169036 - Transportation Projects
Dear Rob:
Thank you for your e-mail of July 13, 2008, regarding three
transportation projects across the province. Please accept my apologies
for the lateness of my reply.
In 2005, our government committed to starting work on $200 million worth
of transportation projects along the Cariboo Connector. So far we've
broken ground on several projects, throughout the corridor, and we're
well underway with extensive project development and engineering for
many more. If you would like to learn more about the Cariboo Connector
you can visit my ministry's website at
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/cariboo_connector/index.htm.
In response to your first question, the Trans Canada Highway from Cache
Creek to Kamloops and Vancouver runs adjacent to the Coquihalla Highway.
Since that highway is already four lanes, expanding the Trans Canada
Highway would not provide enough benefit to travellers to justify the
significant cost.
In regards to the Stormont Mcbride connector in New Westminster, it
remains a possibility in the long term, but is not part of any agency's
current construction horizon. That said, my ministry will continue to
review this connection as part of our ongoing planning activities with
local municipalities.
Lastly, I appreciate your support for projects under my ministry's
Gateway Program, namely the North and South Fraser Perimeter Road
projects. As you may know, work is well advanced on the Pitt River
Bridge/Mary Hill Interchange, a key component of the North Fraser
Perimeter Road plan (NFPR). I am also happy to inform you that the
South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR) will be a four-lane, 80 km/h route
that will connect with Highway 99, Highway 91, and Highway 1 at 176th
Street and construction will commence in the very near future. If you
have any further questions about the SFPR or any other Gateway projects
you can access information on the program's website at
http://www.gatewayprogram.bc.ca/.
Thank you for your kind words of support.
Best regards,
Kevin Falcon
Minister
________________________________
From:
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 10:05 PM
To: Transportation, Minister TRAN:EX
Subject: Transportation Projects
Dear Minister Falcon,
I am a supporter of all the road and transit projects you have planned.
Keep up the good work, a lot of these have been needed for some time
now.
I just have a few questions:
1. Why is the Cariboo Connector planned to be 4 lanes from Cache Creek
to Prince George,
but the (Trans-Canada) Highway from Cache Creek to Vancouver and to
Kamloops will remain 2 lanes?
It would make sense that at least the route to Kamloops would be four
lanes the entire way.
2. Will the Stormont-Macbride connector in New Westminster ever be
built?
Has the city of New Westminster forced it's removal from plans?
3.I really think that the North and South perimeter roads are great
plans,
but will there ever be a real freeway connection from the Trans-Canada
to Highway 99/91?
I am asking these two questions, because it has always seemed ridiculous
to me that we can drive
from Kamloops to Burnaby on a freeway, and from Mexico to New
Westminster on a freeway,
but we have to use Front St. or Columbia to get from Highway 91a to
Highway 1.
Thanks for your attention, and lets hope your party is re-elected for a
very long time!