Vancouver debates viaduct demolition

Vancouver City Council is considering getting rid of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts in order to change the way traffic from the city's east side gets into the downtown core.

At the request of council, city staff have already sketched out six possible scenarios, some of which could end with the viaducts coming down altogether.

They include tearing down one or both of the viaducts, shortening them so they merge with Pacific and Expo boulevards, or connecting both viaducts to Main Street.

The viaducts were temporarily closed to traffic during the 2010 Winter Olympics in February, but the initial study was launched by Vancouver city council in November 2009.

Next week councillors will debate spending $695,000 to study the ideas in more depth.

The Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts opened almost four decades ago and city staff estimate they still have 50 years of life left.

Nonetheless, they might not fit with the current council's vision for Vancouver, according to Coun. Geoff Meggs, who first proposed the idea.

"You know, 50 years of life for a freeway when everyone is telling us to de-emphasize the car is a strange way to go, in my opinion," said Meggs.

In thepath of development

Once the city approves development in Northeast False Creek, the viaducts might be getting in the way, he said.

"It's a very critical part of the city and some of the most valuable real estate in the city. It could be opened up for public use. It could be opened up for development," he said.

"Certainly on Main Street where the viaducts are landing there is room for development, if the ramps were removed."

"We could really connect Chinatown, Yaletown, parts of the Downtown Eastside, and open up more green space. There's room for some more development."

If council votes to move ahead with the study, it would take nine months, wrapping up in May 2011, he said.

Any construction would come well after that, meaning the viaducts could be a key issue in the next municipal election in November 2011.