By Dan Ferguson
Staff Reporter Jun 01 2005 Bury South Fraser Perimeter Road,¨residents say
Some North Delta residents say the long-discussed South
Fraser Perimeter Road should run underground through their
community, either through a tunnel or a cut-and-cover
trench.
Without a tunnel, an assessment prepared by the Sunbury
Neighbourhood Association warns the four-lane heavy truck
route would only add to traffic congestion.
"Residents of River Road would be sandwiched between two
routes," said Pat Lavery, one of two association members who
presented their findings to Delta council Monday night.
Don Hunt, the other member, said the proposed truck route
would cut a wide slash through the community, threatening
historical sites and wildlife.
"Tunnelling would pay for itself in savings on fuel and
time," Hunt argued.
It's estimated a tunnel could add $200 million to the
$800-million cost of the project.
Council voted to back the residents' call, with Coun. Scott
Hamilton winning applause when he told the crowd of more
than 200 people who attended the presentation that "North
Delta deserves a tunnel."
Coun. Bruce McDonald said he wasn't sure an underground
route is possible given the cost, but steps must be taken to
minimize impact.
If the four lanes run along the Fraser River shore, as
currently proposed, "we are looking at an obliteration of
everything along that river bank", McDonald said.
"I would love to say a tunnel or nothing, but West Vancouver
did and they didn't win," McDonald commented.
Council was informed Monday that the Burlington Northern
Railway is looking into building the road as an elevated
route over top of the existing railroad right-of-way,
something that has been discussed in the past as a less
disruptive and less expensive alternative to expropriating
existing properties.
That came from one of the owners of a property along the
proposed route, Larry Reid, who said he was advised by
highway planners that it will be at least five years before
construction starts.
The 80-km/h perimeter road would run from Port Kells in
Surrey, past the Burns Bog ecological reserve, all the way
to Deltaport in Ladner.
