Hwy 99 Fraser River Tunnel (George Massey Replacement) | Proposed

[WarrenC12]

https://www.biv.com/article/2017/5/ndp-says-massey-bridge-cost-12-billion/

Documents leaked to the NDP suggest the debt servicing costs on the $3.5 billion George Massey Tunnel replacement bridge total $8 billion

Explanation:

"As an example, if you bought a home for $750,000 today and pay it off over a 35- year period, you'll pay nearly $1 million in interest. You wouldn’t say you paid $1.75 million for the home. It’s the exactly the same principle for the Massey Bridge – and the reason we're doing it is to keep toll rates low for commuters.”

[Cypherus]

Looks like commanding views one would get when heading over the bridge, where the deck is 58 meters above the river (although it is proposed to be increased to 65 meters to allow bigger ships to pass under to Fraser Docks).
It would be quite the grand entrance to Metro Vancouver. However, you wouldn't see downtown Vancouver - just the top of Shangri La if one is looking for it.


North Approach at top of deck.


Looking Northeast.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

Looks like commanding views one would get when heading over the bridge, where the deck is 58 meters above the river (although it is proposed to be increased to 65 meters to allow bigger ships to pass under to Fraser Docks).

not happening, they said it wouldn't and will not happen. 58m is the final.

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

Looks like commanding views one would get when heading over the bridge, where the deck is 58 meters above the river (although it is proposed to be increased to 65 meters to allow bigger ships to pass under to Fraser Docks).
It would be quite the grand entrance to Metro Vancouver. However, you wouldn't see downtown Vancouver - just the top of Shangri La if one is looking for it.


North Approach at top of deck.


Looking Northeast.

The top pic shows how a lot of our major roads are totally outdated. The tunnel roadbed looks like a country 2 lane road. Bring on this modern bridge with a modern roadway on it finally.

[libtard]

When does the contract get awarded?

[Metro-One]

Looks like never if the Liberals don't somehow luck out with a majority.

This is why I wish BC had a left of centre political party more similar to those in Ontario and Quebec. They are for the environment and focus major funds for transit, but they don't forsake highways and roads in the process of doing so.

Please note I would be happy with a compromise, such as reducing the bridge itself to 8 lanes and maybe extending the HOV / Bus lanes to at least King George to have a proper rapid bus transfer station for White Rock, but i worry it will be a complete cancellation.

[libtard]

There is definitely activity along the 99 corridor in Richmond but it seems very half assed. Some sand here, some piles of dirt there. Even though the contract for site prep has been awarded could they be waiting to find out who will lead the province before really ramping up? Hmmmm

[Metro-One]

Exactly, everything is in limbo currently.

[flipper316]

Oh lord, might as well take those signs down that say construction starts in 2017.

[libtard]

Sources are saying that even WITH a majority (44 seats) getting this project built will be a struggle. I hate to say it but I think this project is dead in the water. The Liberals needed to win decisively in order to get this bridge built

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by libtard

Sources are saying that even WITH a majority (44 seats) getting this project built will be a struggle. I hate to say it but I think this project is dead in the water. The Liberals needed to win decisively in order to get this bridge built

Sweet deal. Now the money can be spent on more appropriate projects.

[Metro-One]

That is not exactly how it works, it is not as if there is a big pile of money sitting around they can just use on anything.

The BC Libs promised the same amount as the NDP for the Broadway subway and Surrey"s pet LRT project, so those were going to get built anyway (which for major transit projects would have taken us to the next election cycle anyways), but now without any major needed road improvements it seems.

The idea that the Liberals did not build transit is a little misleading, yes they always seem to do it in an annoying somewhat hesitant fashion (which I agree is a detriment) but during their majority governments we did get the Canada Line, the Evergreen Line, many station upgrades, the #1 rapid bus, etc... while also improving our outdated and inadequate highway system to more modern standards and closer to an appropriate size for our region.

The 99 and the GMT needs to be updated / replaced, and that will involve major interchanges and a mega structure.

As I said, I can understand small compromises (such as reducing the bridge to 8 lanes) but to outright cancel the project will be a huge mistake.

[WarrenC12]

I believe the NDP said they were in favour of a twinned tunnel instead. I'm not sure what the official Green position was.

Safe to say it's back to the drawing board.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I believe the NDP said they were in favour of a twinned tunnel instead. I'm not sure what the official Green position was.

Safe to say it's back to the drawing board.

From the Green Party page on transportation:

A B.C. Green Government would suspend work on the Massey Tunnel replacement pending a comprehensive and transparent review of alternatives, in cooperation with the Mayors’ Council.

[M00dy]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I believe the NDP said they were in favour of a twinned tunnel instead. I'm not sure what the official Green position was.

Safe to say it's back to the drawing board.

A twinned tunnel should not, and imo will not be built.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by M00dy

A twinned tunnel should not, and imo will not be built.

Why not?

[jlousa]

You could not just twin the tunnel, as you would need to build 2 new tunnels. The existing one would need to be removed as it interferes in the shipping channel with larger vessels. The Federal money on the table for the project is on the condition of opening up that shipping channel.
I'm not so sure we'll see this one nixed quite yet, lets wait until the dust settles.

[Trainguy]

This bridge project is not about transportation issues. It is about politics. A project that hangs on the threads of an election is not important enough to be built or it would get built regardless of who is in power. We will have a good idea of where things are headed after the 26th.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by Trainguy

This bridge project is not about transportation issues.

It's pretty obvious you've never tried to use the tunnel when traffic is moderate to high. At one point I considered moving to White Rock, but the tunnel was a deal breaker, and I'm used to traffic bottlenecks.

[Trainguy]

Originally Posted by Pinion

It's pretty obvious you've never tried to use the tunnel when traffic is moderate to high. At one point I considered moving to White Rock, but the tunnel was a deal breaker, and I'm used to traffic bottlenecks.

I hear yah.. My point was that there are no meetings of the mind politically or it would get built regardless. That's what makes it political. To the average commuter stuck in traffic, of course it is necessary. What a waste of time sitting in traffic.