‘It is a sham,’ Delta councillor blasts province over Massey Tunnel replacement project
Posted June 16, 2026 8:44 am.
Last Updated June 16, 2026 8:45 am.
Civic politicians are tearing apart the provincial government one day after the Ministry of Transportation announced it had terminated a deal with the design-build consortium it had chosen to replace the aging Massey Tunnel.
Despite that, it claims the project remains on track to be completed by 2030.
However, that’s not good enough for Delta City Coun. Dylan Kruger. On Monday evening, he put forward an emergency motion demanding an independent review of the project, which passed unanimously. The text of the motion is included at the bottom of this story.
On Tuesday, council will send a letter to the ministry pushing for just that.
“This project only has one gear: reverse,” Kruger told 1130 NewsRadio.
“It’s unbelievable to me that after all these years of delays and cost escalations, it’s Groundhog Day all over again. To see the procurement for this project, basically, go back to square one, it is so disheartening for all of the commuters who use this tunnel and are stuck in gridlock every single day.”
We asked Kruger if he thinks it would have been faster to have just built a bridge, instead of replacing the existing tunnel — an idea that was previously floated.
“What’s happening is exactly what myself and others were saying years ago when the province scrapped the bridge project in favour of this ill-advised tunnel. They were going for a far more complex project. — an immersed tube-tunnel with major and much more significant environmental impacts — and we’re seeing the results of that now.”
He adds acres and acres of farmland will be paved over on both the Delta and Richmond sides of the tunnel, despite pleas from some local farmers’ associations. Kruger adds wildlife will also be disrupted in Deas Island Park.
“It really makes one think they don’t actually have any intention of building it.”
He adds the economic consequence of not getting the tunnel replaced is hurting businesses and the country’s overall finances.
“This is a national trade corridor connecting Delta Port, the largest container port terminal in Western Canada, YVR, the Blaine border crossing with the rest of Canada. It is stunting economic growth because of the inability to get this vital trade corridor fixed.”
Despite Monday’s setback, the ministry responsible says the project is expected to be completed and operational by 2030.
Kruger doesn’t believe that.
“Not for a second. The reality is, whatever spin they’re putting on it, they’re going back to the beginning of this procurement process,” he said.
“The existing contract has failed; they do not have a builder for this project. You can’t tell me for a second, without an environmental assessment certificate, without a fixed budget, and without a builder, that this project is still on track for completion for 2030. There is no way.”
Kruger says he — and residents — are beyond frustrated by the constant hurdles to get this project done.
“It’s disbelief. This is the same story happening over and over and over again. It seems like every few months, we’re learning about more delays, and the frustrating part is the lack of transparency,” he said.
“We were told with certainty five years ago in 2021, when the business case was put out for this project, that the cost would be $4.15 billion. For five years, that budget line item has stayed the same, even though cost escalations have increased for every other major project in B.C., but we do not know the true cost of this project anymore.”
The province maintains the budget remains at $4.15 billion, but Kruger thinks it could be as much as double that.
“It is a sham. It’s an embarrassment for this province. It is the biggest transportation boondoggle of the 21st century here in B.C.”
He adds the Massey replacement isn’t the only focus either.
“The other piece that’s frustrating for our residents is still there has been a refusal to include a second exit out of Ladner, within the project scope. This was originally in the project scope and then removed by the province. The refusal of the province to accept federal funding opportunities for this project, it really makes one think they don’t actually have any intention of building it.”
Delta Mayor George Harvie has also expressed opposition to the contract’s cancellation.
Minister of Transportation and Transit Mike Farnworth says B.C. had received “good value from the contractor” and had made steady progress with the design, but the province was taking the project back to a competitive process to get the best value for taxpayers.
“By design, our process has a pre-existing termination option in case we could not reach mutually acceptable terms. We are well placed to leverage improving market competitiveness,” said Farnworth in a statement.
“We know the market is hungry for work on major infrastructure projects, and engagement with industry confirmed there is strong interest in competing for this project.”
Early construction work started in January, including tree-clearing and utility relocations, and it will continue while procurement for future phases of the project remains underway, the ministry statement says.
The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office says it expects to complete its review of the project before the end of this year, while major construction is set to begin next year.
Motion put forward by Coun. Dylan Kruger June 15:
Motion for an Independent Review of the Fraser River Tunnel Project
Councillor Dylan Kruger
WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia has announced that it has terminated negotiations with Cross Fraser Partnership for the final construction phase of the Fraser River Tunnel Project and will restart procurement through a new contracting model;
AND WHEREAS the Province has confirmed that agreement could not be reached on the commercial terms required to proceed with final construction;
AND WHEREAS the Fraser River Tunnel Project is one of the most significant transportation infrastructure projects in British Columbia and is critical to the movement of people, goods and services throughout Delta, Metro Vancouver and the province;
AND WHEREAS residents, businesses, municipalities and taxpayers deserve transparency regarding the financial, scheduling and procurement implications of this decision;
AND WHEREAS the Province has not publicly disclosed the revised project budget, the anticipated increase in project costs, or a revised project completion date resulting from the termination of the procurement process;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Delta Council formally request the Province of British Columbia appoint an independent third party to review the circumstances that led to the termination of the procurement process for the Fraser River Tunnel Project;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the review include:
- The reasons negotiations with Cross Fraser Partnership were unsuccessful;
- The financial implications of terminating the existing procurement process;
- The total costs incurred to date on project planning, design, procurement and early works;
- The anticipated revised project budget;
- The anticipated revised project completion date;
- The impacts of the procurement restart on regional transportation, goods movement and economic development; and
- Recommendations to improve transparency and accountability for future major transportation infrastructure procurements.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Delta Council request the Province publicly release the findings of the review and provide regular updates on the revised project budget, schedule and procurement process.
