George Massey Tunnel replacement plans expected to be released

The final scope and cost estimate will then be made before the project goes to an environmental review.

Stone says the bridge is crucial because the current tunnel is B.C.’s biggest bottleneck and the bridge will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by chopping up to one million hours of vehicle idling time per year. He said the tolling will be about the same as the Port Mann Bridge, where drivers pay $3.15 per crossing. However, traffic volumes – and tolling revenues – have consistently fallen below forecasts as drivers have opted for non-tolled options like the Patullo Bridge.

It’s expected to cost about $3 billion to build the new span between Delta and Richmond, but the government still has not released a business plan. Proponents are planning to allocate four general travel lanes and one transit/HOV lane in each direction.

The new bridge is expected to last more than a century and allow for the expansion of future rapid transit, he added.

The tunnel’s lighting, pumping and ventilation systems would need to be replaced in 10 years, and the structure no longer meets modern seismic safety standards, he said. The tunnel sections were dropped into the bed of the Fraser River and covered with a protective layer of rock. It is a vital route for south of Fraser residents, traffic to the United States, and truck traffic, especially with the continued expansion of the port facilities in Delta.

More on this as it develops…