Eight-lane tunnel to replace George Massey

DELTA (NEWS 1130) – An eight-lane tunnel has been announced as the replacement for the aging George Massey crossing.

The new tunnel is expected to open in 2030 and will cost an estimated $4.15 billion, according to the B.C. government.

The toll-free crossing will feature two lanes dedicated to bus transit, and will also include separated pathways for cyclists and pedestrians.

The replacement project has been mired in delays since the New Democrats rose to power in the province in 2017, later cancelling construction of a 10-lane span to replace the aging tunnel.

The province has repeatedly said the replacement is a top priority. However, the NDP’s latest budget did not include any big spending plans for the crossing, and release of a full report outlining the business case had been lagging.

The Massey Tunnel sees backups almost daily, and has been referred to by many as the worst traffic bottleneck in Metro Vancouver.

While many had hoped a replacement would address congestion and traffic delays, the province says peak-hour trips will take the same amount of time they do now. It’s expected to take about a third of the time if you travel against traffic in peak times.

With improvements to transit in the corridor underway already – some already done – the province aiming to improve the trip speed for commuters in personal vehicles and on transit.#bcpoli @NEWS1130

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) August 18, 2021

“A new crossing to replace the George Massey Tunnel will improve traffic flow and make travel by transit, walking and cycling more convenient and attractive, without costing commuters
hundreds of dollars a year in unfair tolls,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming. “We’ve worked hard to make sure this is the right project for the region, and
along with the other Highway 99 improvements getting underway, we’re getting people moving around in the region.”

The province says it’s already begun work to reduce congestion at the tunnel, launching various projects to improve infrastructure along the Highway 99 corridor.

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According to the province, two options were included in the business case — a bridge and a tunnel, both eight-lanes in width.

“Both options were given serious consideration,” says the province, which has outlined the reasons for choosing another tunnel as a replacement.

The province claims the tunnel option “best meets regional vision/interests, as endorsed by the Metro Vancouver Board;” and “limits any new visual, noise, shading and lighting impacts over the life of the structure.”

The tunnel also has fewer impacts to agricultural land, the province says, adding work can also “start immediately on the bottleneck areas of the Highway 99 corridor.”

Protection from inclement weather for those using the crossing and facilitating the movement of trucks and cyclists with lower elevation change were also cited as reasons.

The province is now going to begin the environmental assessment process, and will continue to engage with Indigenous peoples on the replacement.

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Timing a key issue

Delta Mayor George Harvie describes himself as “agnostic” on the issue of whether the replacement should have been a bridge or a tunnel, saying he’s on board with the plan announced Wednesday. For him, the key issue is timing.

“I promoted the bridge because that was what was going to be built, but then things changed,” he said.

“I was really pushing for an announcement, build what you want. It’s a provincial asset, I respect that. But we’ve got to get going on it and fortunately today they’ve started. So my job, now as mayor, is to continue pressuring that we get it done as fast as possible,” Harvie added.

He says he’s confident the 2030 deadline will be met, and pleased with the plan to include dedicated transit lanes and “active transportation” options for pedestrians and cyclists.

“We can’t let the red tape and the bureaucracy slow it down, we’ve got to do it properly,” he said.

“We have to ensure that day one there’s a modern rapid transportation system so that people will want to get out of their cars.”

Bridge vs. tunnel

Meanwhile, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade says it would have preferred a bridge. However, President and CEO Bridgitte Anderson says the priority for the business community is getting a replacement — any replacement — built.

“This is a critical bottleneck that really impacts our regional competitiveness, so it needed to be addressed. So we’re delighted to see that there is some news moving this forward,” she said.

“Population is forecast to continue to grow so it’s going to become even more critical that this project moves ahead quickly. It really is about the movement of people and goods and so the economic impact is enormous and we can’t underscore enough how important it is for this aging tunnel to be replaced.”

The Surrey Board of Trade also advocated for a bridge, and CEO Anita Huberman says the planned tunnel doesn’t add enough capacity.

“The eight-lane tunnel, which is really only an additional two lanes from what currently is in place, does not meet Surrey’s needs to move people and move goods. Surrey is compromised again in terms of transportation infrastructure,” she said in a statement.

“The bridge was expected to have been almost ready by now. It is unfortunate that we are back at square one.”