National

Two options on table to replace Massey tunnel

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Dec, 2020 11:32 PM

The British Columbia government says it has received a business case outlining two options to replace the 61-year-old George Massey Tunnel in Metro Vancouver.

NEWS - Business case received for a proposed replacement of #MasseyTunnel, which includes the two shortlisted bridge and tunnel options.
What happens next: https://t.co/i8ZEYan01d #RichmondBC #DeltaBC #BCHwy99 pic.twitter.com/3iDj5GwCxc
— BC Transportation (@TranBC) December 17, 2020

The 629-metre, four-lane crossing beneath the Fraser River is a daily traffic bottleneck, and the province says it will now decide on whether to build an eight-lane bridge or an eight-lane tunnel.

The Liberals announced during the 2013 election campaign that it would replace the aging tunnel, but the NDP cancelled the former government's 10-lane bridge proposal shortly after taking office in 2017.

Dispute over the tunnel simmered again briefly during this year's election campaign as the Liberals vowed to ditch the eight-lane proposal and immediately start construction of a 10-lane bridge.

The government says in a release that it will review the business case before making its decision, but it did not say when that could happen.

The Transportation Ministry says it has worked with the regional mayors' task force, Indigenous groups, TransLink and local municipalities to develop and evaluate options for the crossing.

Photo courtesy of Twitter (BC Government)

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. woman charged after deliberately coughing on grocery clerk: RCMP Tissues and toilet paper aren't worth arrest

A woman is facing criminal charges after RCMP in British Columbia allege she coughed at a grocery clerk who would not let her buy extra tissues. Police say a store in the Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam has set a maximum amount of tissues and toilet paper each customer can buy as the COVID-19 pandemic wears on.

B.C. woman charged after deliberately coughing on grocery clerk: RCMP Tissues and toilet paper aren't worth arrest

Canadians drinking more due to stress, boredom during COVID-19

A study commissioned by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction suggests some Canadians are drinking more alcohol due to boredom and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The poll, conducted by Nanos Research, found 25 per cent of Canadians aged 35 to 54 and 21 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 34 say they have increased the amount of alcohol they drink while spending more time at home.

Canadians drinking more due to stress, boredom during COVID-19

Ferries, orchestra retract layoffs, await subsidy

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and BC Ferries have rescinded lay-off notices in anticipation of receiving the Canadian government's emergency wage subsidies. Both BC Ferries and the symphony had planned layoffs to take effect on the Easter weekend as the COVID-19 pandemic drains away their businesses.

Ferries, orchestra retract layoffs, await subsidy

The Bank of Canada announced that it is holding its interest rate target at 0.25 per cent

The Bank of Canada is warning that the downturn tied to COVID-19 will be the worst on record and that the economic recovery will depend on the effectiveness of current measures to bring the pandemic under control. The bank announced that it is keeping its key interest rate target on hold at 0.25 per cent, saying that it is effectively as low as it can go to combat the economic impacts of COVID-19.

The Bank of Canada announced that it is holding its interest rate target at 0.25 per cent

Liberals ease access to emergency COVID-19 benefit, plan to top-up wages

The federal government is making changes to its COVID-19 programs to send emergency aid to seasonal workers without jobs and those whose hours have been drastically cut but who still have some income. The changes will also allow people who are making up to $1,000 a month to qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, as well as those whose employment insurance benefits have run out since the start of the calendar year.

Liberals ease access to emergency COVID-19 benefit, plan to top-up wages

Canada focused on fighting COVID-19 Trudeau steers clear of WHO controversy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refused Wednesday to join the escalating global debate about the World Health Organization's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, insisting Canada remains focused on working with experts around the world to combat the pandemic. Trudeau repeatedly batted back questions about Donald Trump's plan to halt funding to the UN agency and review what the U.S. president says was a failure to properly assess the threat posed by the novel coronavirus back in January.