Richmond councillor wants NDP to take new direction on proposed bridge to replace Massey Tunnel

Richmond city council is looking for alternatives to the proposed 10-lane bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel.

Richmond has long opposed the project, which the previous B.C. Liberal government championed. TheNDP has been more ambivalent.

Now that the NDP is set to take power,Richmond councilbelieves it hasa chance to stop the bridgeand hasasked staff to find alternatives to the project.

• What's going to happen to the bridge proposed to replace the Massey Tunnel?

"Twenty-threemillion dollars was already spent seismically upgrading the tunnel," CouncillorCarol Day told On the Coast guest host Gloria Macarenko.

In addition, Day said former transportation ministerKevin Falcon had announced twinning the tunnel, adding "even previous premier Gordon Campbell said upgrading the tunnel and adding another tube was the way to go.

"How did we go from that to basically a $12-billion project when you add in the financing? It doesn't make logical sense."

• Debt could add $8 billion to Massey bridge cost, says NDP

Day said capacityat the frequently-congested tunnel could be improvedby banning trucks during rush hour and running local ports 24 hours a day.

She saidthe previous government never took the city's concerns or ideas for the tunnel's future seriously despite "hundreds of meetings."

She said she's optimistic things will be different in the future.

The B.C. NDP has said it will defer to the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council on the future of the George Massey Tunnel.

Listen to the complete interview withCarol Day:

Delta mayor decries 'myths'

TheMayors' Council has consistently opposed the 10-lane bridge as well, except for Delta Mayor Lois Jackson.

Jackson said extensive research has shown abridge is "superior, cheaper, more environmentally friendly" than any alternatives.

• City of Richmond report highlights 'significant gaps' in Massey Tunnel replacement plans

"To put a tunnel in there is going to cost $800 million more than the projected bridge with all of the studies," she said. "This was not political research. That was done. This is factual, technical research."

Day disagreed with Jackson's assertions, saying other jurisdictions have been able to build tunnels cheaper and faster than the projected costs of the proposed bridge.

• Metro Vancouver mayors reject replacement of Massey Tunnel with 10-lane bridge

Jackson says a report will be coming out next week compiling the research done on the proposed bridge and its alternatives, and it's important to dispel mythsabout the project.

With files form CBC Radio One's On The Coast