170 planners oppose expansion of bridge and highway
Frank Luba
Province
The twinning of the bridge is intended to relieve the area’s traffic problems.
Award-winning scientist and broadcaster David Suzuki used the backdrop of the World Urban Forum yesterday to voice his opposition to the provincial government’s plan to twin Port Mann Bridge and expand Highway 1 from Langley to Vancouver.
Suzuki added his signature to those of 170 planners opposed to the bridge and highway expansion. The petition was sent from the 2006 World Planners Congress to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and Finance Minister Carole Taylor.
The Port Mann twinning and the Highway 1 expansion are a $1.5-billion chunk of the $3-billion Gateway Program being pushed by Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon to address congestion and the movement of goods and services.
Suzuki isn’t buying Falcon’s plan.
“There is not a single case in the world in which expansion of highway systems leads to reduction of congestion,” said Suzuki.
“[The expansion] opens up that whole valley for greater development and bigger sprawl, more sprawl, more single-family dwellings with two to three cars. You’re just going to increase the amount of congestion. It’s not a solution.”
Falcon said he wouldn’t be supportive of the plan if it only entailed twinning the bridge and expanding the highway.
The Gateway plan, explained Falcon, also includes more high-occupancy vehicle lanes, the ability to put public transit on the bridge, expanded cycling capability and tolls “that would get people thinking about options” to driving.
“We know it’s going to get dramatically worse,” said Falcon of the congestion.
© The Vancouver Province 2006