[Traum]

New Westminster proposing new four lane, tolled bridge | News1130 (http://www.news1130.com/2014/03/05/new-westminster-proposing-new-four-lane-tolled-bridge/)

NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS1130) – New Westminster says it has the solution to deal with increased traffic volumes in its city: a new, tolled four-lane Pattullo Bridge.

Traffic volume was decreasing on the bridge before the Port Mann Bridge was tolled.

New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright says there have been an additional 8,000 daily trips on the Pattullo and there has been a 75 per cent growth in truck traffic on Royal Avenue.

He says this new proposal is the only way to go.

“As a free alternative, it’s significantly and negatively affecting the livability of New Westminster. Tolls on a new four lane bridge are needed, not only to finance the new bridge, but also as a critical measure to lower demand for car travel over the bridge and to promote the use of alternative transportation modes.”

He also thinks a direct link is needed between the South Fraser Perimeter road and Port Mann to make things more efficient and to cut New West out of people’s routes.

“The fact is the city has the second lowest level of car ownership, and the second highest level of transit ridership of the entire region, after downtown Vancouver.”

The new Pattullo would cost about $850 million — a six-lane bridge would cost $1.5 billion.

Calls to Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts have not yet been returned.

Louise Yako with the BC Trucking Association says there needs to be a free alternative to cross the Fraser River.

“Having three stuctures that cross the Fraser River, that are all tolled, would not be in keeping with our policy.”

She also says four lanes is not enough.

[Traum]

Seems to me that New West has been in the local news a lot regarding various traffic woes since the beginning of 2014. First it was the Port Mann tolls going up to $3 and driving much higher volumes of traffic to the Pattulo. Then it was their mayor and residents' complains making its way through the news. Then the Bailey Bridge recently gets closed for the 2nd time for repairs. And now this.

Undoubtedly traffic volume through New West has increased quite a bit, but do you find the complains valid? or do you consider it more like whining and such? Is a tolled Pattulo good for all of Metro Vancouver?

Personally, I find that with New West being smack in the middle of Metro Vancouver, the pass through traffic problem is unavoidable. It seems to me that the New West traffic infrastructure needs to be beefed up to support the volume, instead of simply taking measures to divert that volume to somewhere else.

[european]

I have a feeling that most people will just take the Alex Fraser Bridge if a new bridge is built and tolled, hah.

[Mr.HappySilp]

Just toll every bridge at $1.50 each way. That way it doesn't matter which bride you take, there will be a toll.

[yray]

Sure, we could have a 4lane patulluo only if you allow us to build a 6 lane viaduct around your city.

[MG1]

Just toll every bridge at $1.50 each way. That way it doesn't matter which bride you take, there will be a toll.

I wouldn't mind that. $1.50 each way makes cents. Not too much that it'll hurt the pocketbook, but enough to pay for the stuff.

As a side note, my all time favourite bridge has been closed. By the sounds of it, forever. The single lane bridge some take to Princess Auto. The Baily Bridge at the foot of Braid Street. It doesn't really save anyone that much time, 'cause the overpass at King Edward is completed, but the cool factor of that bridge, LOL.

The feel of the timbers shaking as you cross.

[Jas29]

It would make sense to have a yearly fee and toll all the bridges.

which you could pay when you buy your insurance or you opt out and pay a higher rate for each time you cross.

[PeanutButter]

I wouldn't mind that. $1.50 each way makes cents. Not too much that it'll hurt the pocketbook, but enough to pay for the stuff.

As a side note, my all time favourite bridge has been closed. By the sounds of it, forever. The single lane bridge some take to Princess Auto. The Baily Bridge at the foot of Braid Street. It doesn't really save anyone that much time, 'cause the overpass at King Edward is completed, but the cool factor of that bridge, LOL.

The feel of the timbers shaking as you cross.

Not sure why your post reminded me of this video...
Maybe because you're really old? haha

KIDS REACT TO ROTARY PHONES - YouTube

[stump]

Seems to me that New West has been in the local news a lot regarding various traffic woes since the beginning of 2014. First it was the Port Mann tolls going up to $3 and driving much higher volumes of traffic to the Pattulo. Then it was their mayor and residents' complains making its way through the news. Then the Bailey Bridge recently gets closed for the 2nd time for repairs. And now this.

Undoubtedly traffic volume through New West has increased quite a bit, but do you find the complains valid? or do you consider it more like whining and such? Is a tolled Pattulo good for all of Metro Vancouver?

Personally, I find that with New West being smack in the middle of Metro Vancouver, the pass through traffic problem is unavoidable. It seems to me that the New West traffic infrastructure needs to be beefed up to support the volume, instead of simply taking measures to divert that volume to somewhere else.

Also prevented the North Fraser Perimeter Road from being built.

I hate driving through New West so much and I have to do it 5 days a week to get to my job. Fortunately we are moving our office early next year so I won't have to do it again when that happens.

[FS1992EG]

We should be able to vote on how much would want to pay for each toll crossing.

I would vote that 25 cents for crossing is reasonable for toll bridge in Vancouver.

[nabs]

I wouldn't mind that. $1.50 each way makes cents. Not too much that it'll hurt the pocketbook, but enough to pay for the stuff.

As a side note, my all time favourite bridge has been closed. By the sounds of it, forever. The single lane bridge some take to Princess Auto. The Baily Bridge at the foot of Braid Street. It doesn't really save anyone that much time, 'cause the overpass at King Edward is completed, but the cool factor of that bridge, LOL.

The feel of the timbers shaking as you cross.

Love that bridge, lets hope they re-open it!

I always used to take that way on purpose to get onto United rather than taking HWY 1 just to show it to ppl.

[meme405]

Love that bridge, lets hope they re-open it!

I always used to take that way on purpose to get onto United rather than taking HWY 1 just to show it to ppl.

I drove over that like less than a month ago. Why did they close it?

TBH that bridge and road makes no sense. The road on the princess auto side is soo wide and has 4 lanes, then it narrows into this rickety 1 lane bridge...

On the other hand it is quite fun to drive over, especially with people who havn't been on it before...

[hotjoint]

Just toll every bridge at $1.50 each way. That way it doesn't matter which bride you take, there will be a toll.

That would make too much sense. The government can't comprehend that level of advanced thinking.

I don't know why they just don't toll every bridge and make it $1 each whenever a new project comes up.

When the project is paid for remove the tolls on the bridges until the next project comes up. Rinse and repeat, everyone is happy. :devil:

[JesseBlue]

Here we go again with the talks of "this is the only way"...the way it is right now should suffice...that and i agree just toll ALL bridges especially bridges going to downtown
Posted via RS Mobile

[MG1]

Not sure why your post reminded me of this video...
Maybe because you're really old? haha

KIDS REACT TO ROTARY PHONES - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkuirEweZvM)

I still have a couple of those. Can't beat the sound of the ringer.


Since you mentioned old phones, I'm trying to win/buy a Kit Kat Klock on eBay. The original one, not the ones they make nowadays.

http://californiaclock.com/kit-cat-world/kit-cat-history/

[MG1]

I drove over that like less than a month ago. Why did they close it?

TBH that bridge and road makes no sense. The road on the princess auto side is soo wide and has 4 lanes, then it narrows into this rickety 1 lane bridge...

On the other hand it is quite fun to drive over, especially with people who havn't been on it before...

I just heard on traffic radio that the bridge is going to be rebuilt......... if it ain't wooden it ain't the same.

Also, for those who want to drive over it, it's closed down for good, so no chance to experience what we have described.

I tell you guys, we need to make a "must do before they is gone" list. Like the Brave Bull. I went there one week before they closed down for good. Speaking of wooden structures, gotta go ride the roller coaster at the PNE one more time before they deem it unsafe and tear it down.

[nah]

Building a 4 lane bridge is short sighted, that's not enough for today, let alone 30-50 years from now.

[lilaznviper]

i don't mind if the bridge is tolled. If they lowered the tolls to $1 or $1.50 to all the bridges more people will be willing to pay for it

[Ball.J.Inder]

I'm not an expert on how the Federal-Provincial govt. relationship works and the politics behind highway 1 but, since hwy 1 is a national highway why can't the federal government help pay for the Port Mann? I understand that most Canadians live in Ontario and Quebec, but living out here in the wild west shouldn't prevent us from getting the feds to help? Afterall there are still a large percentage of Canadian taxpayers in BC?

[roflwaffle604]

as a starving student living in coquitlam and having to cross over to surrey to go to school, i can't afford these tolls. feelsbadman :okay:

[m3thods]

I don't mean (and sorry) to sound like a dick, but there are options to get to school like transit. I don't know if you go to Kwantlen (which I agree, is pretty far to transit but there are a lot of buses that go there) or SFU Surrey (there's Skytrain). Having a car as a "starving student" would be a luxury imo, and if the tolls are eating into your food money there are ways to save that involve leaving the car at home.

Back on topic- I drive the Patullo every day, and have been for the past 5 years. The increase in traffic is definitely noticeable, and has forced me to move my working hours a half hour later to avoid increased volume (even though I'm against rush-hour flow).

Yes a toll would help.

A 4 lane bridge is too short-sighted, as someone mentioned.

And I think if New West wants to complain, they should be told to compromise or shut the fuck up. They're basically one big bottleneck wherever you go in the city, and they're not helping their cause just to maintain their supposed "quiet city life". Sometimes I don't understand why NW has to complain so much. They need to fix their traffic woes yet don't want to add anything to a potential solution.

[Traum]

^^ The irony is, New West itself is trying hard to grow, especially near DT NW. The multiple high rises next to the NW Skytrain station, the NW waterfront area, the new condos along Royal, etc. The city is growing and developing, and Royal, Columbia, and Front streets are getting overwhelmed. The stretch along East Columbia (starting from around Royal Columbian Hospital) has also seen a lot of development, and yet East Columbia is still a stupid two lane road (one lane each way)?! There is no such thing as have your cake and eat it too...

[B!tch]

And in 2002 Coquitlam took New Westminster to court as New Westminster tried to close the baily bridge to halt the traffic flow through NW.

[Traum]

I know that last year when the Bailey Bridge broke down, Coquitlam actually offered to pay for replacement bridge that was 2 lanes wide, even though the bridge itself was entirely in New Westsminster. I honestly don't know what was going through the NW municipal government's head...

:failed:

[CharlesInCharge]

Its not like this province has gas, gold, diamonds, trees or fish to sell... raise the cost of living to clear the roads for the rich and the rest of the people can toughen up and learn how to ride bikes.

[MG1]

The government has more than enough money through taxes. They are just inefficient as all hell. Red tape and so much waste.

[thumper]

I drove over that like less than a month ago. Why did they close it?

TBH that bridge and road makes no sense. The road on the princess auto side is soo wide and has 4 lanes, then it narrows into this rickety 1 lane bridge...

On the other hand it is quite fun to drive over, especially with people who haven't been on it before...

they did an engineering analysis on the bridge and they found structural cracks in the steel superstructure that made it unsafe for use.

that bailey bridge was built sometime back in WW2 and was used as a temporary crossing for military use only, but instead they are using it as a permanent structure because the two municipalites keep bitching at each other until finally this happened. the provincial gov't offered up money to replace it but new west said no because they don't want any more traffic than they already have.

if they had their way, i think they would blow up all vehicular bridges in new west to force commuters to find another way home.

[MG1]

New West can go suck an egg........... who the fuark do they think they are? They are no longer some dumbass royal city.......... more a royal pain in the Lower Mainland's butt than anything else. What ever happened to being part of a larger picture?

Bunch of pompous fucktards. They're in many ways more ghetto than parts of Surrey or the DTES.



*notice I said parts of Surrey? There are plenty of very nice areas in Surrey.

[m3thods]

New West can go suck an egg........... who the fuark do they think they are? They are no longer some dumbass royal city.......... more a royal pain in the Lower Mainland's butt than anything else. What ever happened to being part of a larger picture?

Bunch of pompous fucktards. They're in many ways more ghetto than parts of Surrey or the DTES.



*notice I said parts of Surrey? There are plenty of very nice areas in Surrey.

I don't see many turds in and around Surrey. Like actual human turds. I wish I could say the same for NW. If you take a walk along the new-ish park/trail beside the river that connects the new park to the Quay, there are many turds along the way. You probably wonder why I don't think they're dog turds. Well it's simply because the turds are on the other side of a fence. A fence which separates dogs and cats and raccoons and the like from falling into the Fraser. And judging by the turd sizes, NW would have to have a problem with St. Bernards and Newfies infesting the area. Too bad that isn't the case because that would be so awesome.

Not that I think that all of NW is a turd-riddled municipality. But rather it reminds me why I don't drive into NW that often to enjoy the awesome (aside from the turds) Quay area. Turds and traffic. Just the worst.

[Y2K_o__o]

That would make too much sense. The government can't comprehend that level of advanced thinking.

I don't know why they just don't toll every bridge and make it $1 each whenever a new project comes up.

When the project is paid for remove the tolls on the bridges until the next project comes up. Rinse and repeat, everyone is happy. :devil:

Completely agree, but the pay back period will be very long time. Once they implement the toll, they will never remove it because of their expanded expenses PLUS they will treat this FOR GRANTED.

They SHOULD know how to properly manage their finance and be more EFFICIENT in doing things. Not sure if you guys have driven across Sprott Ave & Hwy 1 in Burnaby. The road work has be on going for 3-4 years if I remember correctly (sometimes with overtime until 1-2am), and it looks nowhere to the end of it.

They spent pretty much the same amount of time for a private company to build a 62-storey high Shangri-La in the middle of downtown where it took alot more effort to handle the material logistically.

[Lomac]

Completely agree, but the pay back period will be very long time. Once they implement the toll, they will never remove it because of their expanded expenses PLUS they will treat this FOR GRANTED.


Well both the Albion Ferry and Coquihalla Highway were both tolled, but they got rid of the tolls after they were paid off.

Just sayin'.

[falcon]

Sitting Mayors shouldn't really have final say on major infrastructure projects. There should be a BC council that decides these things. Like Moonbeam wanting to take the viaducts down.... Mayors should not have that authority.

A 6 lane tolled bridge is IMO the only option. Build for the future, not for the present.

[maxx]

6 lanes. 1.50 each way, 3 for trucks. all bridges.

[JesseBlue]

A 6 lane untolled bridge is IMO the only and best option...
Posted via RS Mobile

[bobbinka]

A 6 lane untolled bridge is IMO the only and best option...
Posted via RS Mobile

Thanks for offering to pay for the bridge! What a generous person

[Mr.HappySilp]

A 6 lane untolled bridge is IMO the only and best option...
Posted via RS Mobile

And who will pay for the bridge or the maintain it?

[MarkyMark]

Maybe Jim Pattison can foot the bill and litter it with more blinding billboards

[Ball.J.Inder]

^that is actually something plausible. And would be a good idea, free advertising for JP group for a 100 years

[JesseBlue]

And who will pay for the bridge or the maintain it?

who pays for the other bridges now?

[MR_BIGGS]

The various bridges in Metro Vancouver fall under different jurisdictions - municipal vs provincial (Pattulo is owned by Translink and the Port Mann by Transportation Investment Corporation).

You are not going to get a Vancouver mayor or the Richmond mayor to get on board with their bridges being tolled before a municipal election. It's a non starter. Plus, the administrative and operational costs of electronic tolling is costly to implement on all bridges.

Also, there are some restrictions on ways municipalities can fund new transportation infrastructure.

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/Metro_Vancouver_regional_transportation_referendum _and_governance_of_TransLink.pdf

[MG1]

^that is actually something plausible. And would be a good idea, free advertising for JP group for a 100 years

That would be awesome. If JP took over, the bridge will actually make money, LOL.

[m3thods]

Billboards are a great idea until the "please think of the children" crowd start petitioning to take them down because they're too distracting for the dumbass youth drivers of today.

[thumper]

Billboards are a great idea until the "please think of the children" crowd start petitioning to take them down because they're too distracting for the dumbass youth drivers of today.

i swear that billboard on the surrey side can be seen from space.

i still lol when i remember the one time it was showing a windows blue screen of death with a giant mouse cursor dozing off in the corner of the screen :lol

[tiger_handheld]

Someone should start a registered charity where the purpose is to build infrastructure to better the lives of people. Isn't bettering the lives of needy the mission of a charity? Imagine all the folks giving so they get a tax break + a nice new road?

Factors that will prevent an organization from being registered as a charity


http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/pplyng/ftwp-eng.html


- seems like Tiger_Handhelds Foundation for the Benefit of taxpayers seems realistic.

[Phil@rise]

I use the Pattulo quite regularly and have yet to notice any significant increase in traffic. Perhaps I'm not going across when the increase in flow is at its peak or perhaps its just another politician digging for gold

[m3thods]

^Rush hour is very noticeable both ways. What times are you crossing?

[Traum]

^^ Also, the very definition of rush hour seems to have extended both ways to start earlier and end later. Various (major) intersections on Royal are also frequently clogged up as drivers seem to have no idea that they shouldn't proceed into an intersection unless they know there is room for them up ahead (so that they won't be stuck blocking the whole intersection up if nothing moves ahead). But all too frequently, this happens with both regular car drivers and truckers... :facepalm:

[Mr.HappySilp]

^^ Also, the very definition of rush hour seems to have extended both ways to start earlier and end later. Various (major) intersections on Royal are also frequently clogged up as drivers seem to have no idea that they shouldn't proceed into an intersection unless they know there is room for them up ahead (so that they won't be stuck blocking the whole intersection up if nothing moves ahead). But all too frequently, this happens with both regular car drivers and truckers... :facepalm:

It happens all the time! Not even sure why they need to do this as there isn't any space up ahead and blocking traffic isn't to going to anything other piss off other people. Seen it far too often where a car is stuck in the middle of the intersection and you have horde of cars being block becuase of one asshole.

[4444]

can someone explain to me where all the income tax, property tax, and ICBC levies go? Shouldn't that shit go towards infrastructure.

I'd be totally down with this IF taxes weren't so fucking high in BC.

The first qu was rhetorical, by the way, i know where it goes - it gets squandered and wasted on politicians' pockets or stupid BS initiatives that have no lasting benefit to the taxpaying community at large.

fucking politicians - fuck every last one of them, they are useless and are a net drain on society

[Carl Johnson]

all the useless bureaucrats in the public sectors need to go. 42cents of every dollar that is collected by this province goes to healthcare alone. people say we got the best healthcare in the world but is it grossly inefficient and mismanaged.

[m3thods]

^^ Also, the very definition of rush hour seems to have extended both ways to start earlier and end later. Various (major) intersections on Royal are also frequently clogged up as drivers seem to have no idea that they shouldn't proceed into an intersection unless they know there is room for them up ahead (so that they won't be stuck blocking the whole intersection up if nothing moves ahead). But all too frequently, this happens with both regular car drivers and truckers... :facepalm:

Yup Royal Ave. is just awful anywhere near rush hour.

McBride is also pretty bad, but nowhere near as bad which is saying something. Lineups almost always to at least 8th Ave. Throw in an accident? Make that lineup all the way up to 10th Ave. and along it (both directions). The worst I've seen was a lineup along 10th Ave. westbound all the way until Cariboo Rd. Given that, I can't imagine what Royal Ave. looks like as I always drive by the congestion from seemingly all directions.

[LightKeeper]

I think they should just ban freight trucks on Pattulo bridge.
At least half of the traffic are those kind of trucks and they move ever so slow! :devil:

Also, If they really want toll it, they can charge people during busy hours.. Leave it free 10pm - 6am Please!

[Acura604]

L O L

Tear the Pattullo Bridge down and let them travel another 20 kilometres, say Burnaby councillors (http://www.theprovince.com/news/Tear+Pattullo+Bridge+down+them+travel+another+kilo metres/9609360/story.html)

Some Burnaby councillors say it's better to tear down the Pattullo Bridge and not replace it, rather than build a new, tolled four-lane crossing.

That was among the councillors' reactions to New Westminster Coun. Bill Harper's presentation on his city's proposal to replace the Pattullo with a new tolled, four-lane bridge at the Burnaby council meeting on Monday night.

New Westminster is starting a tour across the Lower Mainland to present its position on a replacement bridge, and its first stop was Burnaby council in an effort to rally support for its vision.

"New Westminster already had significant traffic challenges due to our location at the centre of the region and this traffic is already affecting the livability and economic viability of the city, and indeed the region," he said to council. "Adding the Pattullo as a free alternative only exacerbated the negative impacts on our residents and businesses. And I'm sure that's the case in Burnaby, as well, since a good sizeable portion of the traffic comes across the Pattullo Bridge and runs through your main connectors."

Harper said a new, tolled four-lane bridge is best and that his city believes a direct connection needs to link the South Fraser Perimeter Road with the Port Mann Bridge. New West also supports the reallocation of capital cost savings from the tolls into other rapid transit objectives, such as Surrey's LRT proposal.

"The provincial government recently announced that they were prepared to pay a certain amount of money for the reconstruction of the Pattullo Bridge," he said. "What we're saying here is toll the bridge and put that money into rapid transit."

Harper said before the Port Mann Bridge was tolled, traffic had been decreasing on the 77-year-old Pattullo, which was originally built as a local connector between neighbouring municipalities and was not a required part of the provincial highway system.

"All that changed when tolls were introduced," he said of the Port Mann. "Port Mann tolls led to a significant increase in traffic, including truck traffic over the bridge to major arterial streets and local streets as drivers seek to find the faster ways to avoid congestion."

Harper said there's simply little room within New Westminster's narrow and historical streets to accommodate additional traffic without adversely affecting its own neighbourhoods, institutions and community areas. He said the problem is Surrey's proposal for a six-lane, freeway style bridge to replace the old Pattullo.

Councillors Nick Volkow and Dan Johnston said they supported New Westminster's four-lane proposal.

Volkow asked if anyone is keeping track of the traffic on the Pattullo in light of the Port Metro Vancouver truck driver's strike, to see if and how traffic has improved.

However, councillors Colleen Jordan, Paul McDonell and Sav Dhaliwal had different ideas on how to deal with the Pattullo Bridge issue.

McDonell said truck traffic should be forced back on to the Port Mann Bridge, and the Pattullo should be torn down and not replaced at all.

"I don't know if we really need that bridge," he noted. "I'm not being facetious. No bridge at all. Tear it down."

McDonell also said if a bridge is built, it shouldn't allow trucks.

"We've got to stop, why do we worry about those people," he said. "Let them travel another 15 or 20 kilometres. Why should we be building for the convenience of them and subjecting our citizens to the outpouring of all of the problems we have with them?"

Harper said the problem is Surrey wants a six-lane bridge.

"Well, that's their problem," McDonell said.

Harper said it becomes New Westminster's problem if Surrey gets its way and builds a six-lane bridge because all that traffic would end up on his city's streets.

Jordan echoed McDonell's opinion of tearing down the bridge and not replacing it, or if the new bridge could ban truck traffic like the Lion's Gate Bridge.

Dhaliwal had a different idea, which is to connect McBride Boulevard with Highway 1 because 10th Avenue, Canada Way and Kingsway have all been adversely affected by the bridge traffic.

"Every car that crosses the Pattullo goes down through Burnaby," he said. "We have a lineup here .... Guess where that traffic is going? It all flows through Canada Way, 10th Avenue, McBride and the Pattullo."

Dhaliwal said a four-lane bridge would only increase traffic. He noted that tolls most likely would not help as the province will most likely end up tolling all bridges at some point in the future.

Mayor Derek Corrigan said Harper can report back to his city saying that many Burnaby councillors think "four lanes was too generous."

"There hasn't been a decision made, but certainly you can tell that most of us are worried about the impact of that traffic coming through our city," he said. "From my point of view, I was there when we bought the bridge off the province for $1, and it was a very expensive purchase."

Corrigan said when the Pattullo transferred into TransLink's responsibility in 1998, it was promised that it would be good for 35 years.

"The engineers that made that original assessment, I don't know where they went, but they should be held accountable for it," he said. "One good piece of news out of all this is around the Lower Mainland, despite Surrey's position, across the Lower Mainland mayors are coming to agreement that they don't want more lanes of traffic and that is a broad consensus that's been reached."

Corrigan said he's advised Surrey that the only way it would create its own city centre is by making sure it isn't easy for people to get to Downtown Vancouver.

"I think in the long run, them declining the increase of road capacity will help them to build a better city and it's good for all of us if Surrey becomes that centre on the other side of the Fraser River."

Corrigan said staff will be working on a report to advise Burnaby on how to proceed regarding New West's proposal.

[stump]

L O L

Tear the Pattullo Bridge down and let them travel another 20 kilometres, say Burnaby councillors (http://www.theprovince.com/news/Tear+Pattullo+Bridge+down+them+travel+another+kilo metres/9609360/story.html)

"We've got to stop, why do we worry about those people," he said. "Let them travel another 15 or 20 kilometres. Why should we be building for the convenience of them and subjecting our citizens to the outpouring of all of the problems we have with them?"

Surely making it as difficult as possible to get goods from one end of the supply chain to the other isn't great for the economy.

Every day that goes by that I have to read the stupid shit coming out of the mouths of Burnaby and New West city council members and mayors makes me think that the only requirement to be in civic politics is to be as dumb as a sack of potatoes.

[underscore]

Are the assholes that live in the middle of things really complaining about being in the middle? Before they go hating on trucks so much they should think about how well they would get along if all of a sudden someone cut off the trucks that supply all their stuff.

As a side note, my all time favourite bridge has been closed. By the sounds of it, forever. The single lane bridge some take to Princess Auto. The Baily Bridge at the foot of Braid Street. It doesn't really save anyone that much time, 'cause the overpass at King Edward is completed, but the cool factor of that bridge, LOL.

The feel of the timbers shaking as you cross.

I crossed that bridge once when I was down there, I think I was trying to get from somewhere in Coquitlam to Tsawwassen and some construction signage kicked me off the highway and wouldn't let me back on (unless I made two illegal turns) so I wound up at that bridge. Confused the shit out of me at first, I think I just sat there for a minute or two trying to sort out WTF I had stumbled across. I had no clue where we had ended up since my GPS was going nuts so I never knew where that awesome little bridge was, thanks for bringing it up.

I just heard on traffic radio that the bridge is going to be rebuilt......... if it ain't wooden it ain't the same.

Also, for those who want to drive over it, it's closed down for good, so no chance to experience what we have described.

I tell you guys, we need to make a "must do before they is gone" list. Like the Brave Bull. I went there one week before they closed down for good. Speaking of wooden structures, gotta go ride the roller coaster at the PNE one more time before they deem it unsafe and tear it down.

By fluke my family went through the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse at Disneyland the day before it got shut down for good. It was our first day and there wasn't any indication it was closing, we just happened to go through it. Then boom, the next day it's all chained off for good.