There was no new money for the planned $3.5 billion bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel in the March 22 federal budget, but that’s not the only challenge the project faces.
The project status report for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, indicates the cost could go up and little was known about traffic flows and volumes when Premier Christy Clark announced it with a $3 billion price tag in September 2013.
“This [$3.5 billion] estimate will be refined in response to scope changes resulting from public and stakeholder engagement and environmental review,” said the report, obtained under Freedom of Information. “The detailed cost estimate will be refined and finalized after the next phase of stakeholder and public engagement.”
Under the heading Risk Management, the report said BC Hydro is conducting a study and consulting First Nations and stakeholders on three relocation options for a 230 kilo-volt transmission line within the tunnel and overhead power infrastructure in the project footprint.
“Failure to remove or relocate this power line and related structures prior to the construction phase may result in project delays,” the report said.
Additionally, the report identified “incorrect or insufficient traffic forecasting to support planning and engineering” as a key consideration.
To solve that, a full traffic data collection program was done in the fall of 2013, with updates in spring, summer and fall 2014. Traffic data was also collected in select locations in spring 2015 and two independent traffic models were developed.
Traffic forecasting is crucial.
The provincial government has said the 10-lane span from Richmond to Delta would be the third new bridge in Metro Vancouver to charge drivers a toll. Traffic forecasts for the Golden Ears and Port Mann toll bridges, however, both fell short and are losing money.
The report said $28.6 million of the $71 million project development budget had been spent since 2014-15, and “a business case has been completed. Procurement will begin in 2016.”
But the February provincial budget included only $7 million in new funds for the 2016-17 fiscal year. The rest is pending a detailed final business case to be approved by the federal Treasury Board.
Property acquisition is expected to begin in early 2016, after a review of properties along the project corridor and a development of a plan to buy the land needed for the project. Selected properties have been appraised, but the properties were not identified in the report. The project will need Agricultural Land Commission approval for works on lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
The draft reference concept has been completed. It includes the main bridge and interchanges at Steveston Highway, Highway 17A and Westminster Highway as well as Highway 99 corridor improvements from Bridgeport Road in Richmond to Highway 91 in Delta.
“The new bridge will include a southbound exit connecting to River Road South. It will allow the Corporation of Delta to extend River Road South eastward under the Delta approach ramp, improving connectivity between Ladner and North Delta.”
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and several other Metro Vancouver mayors want a federal environmental assessment because of air and water quality concerns, and they believe the project contravenes regional planning and transportation goals.
