SFPR should be called Highway 2 as it's just a freeway
The Editor,
The South Fraser Perimeter Road should be renamed to Highway 2 as it
most definitely is not a mere road!
Most people now think the SFPR is supposed to be a four-lane truck road
designated to connect port terminals with heavy industrial sites along
the river with Highway 1, in general providing a new goods movement
corridor when in fact it will be a minimum four-lane 80 km/hr (aka 100
to 120 km) freeway for all and any truck and general commuter traffic.
It is to be an extension of Highway 1 on the south side of the Fraser.
Once Gateway is completed it will allow access to the only two toll free
bridges to cross the Fraser. This highway will be bumper to bumper just
like Highway 1 is now approaching the Port Mann as the increase in
traffic they are predicting for the future predetermines that. Make
note, too, by that time, for safety reasons, the Pattullo may well be
down to two lanes, so that leaves all this traffic heading to the Alex
Fraser. And head that way they will as those who do not want to pay the
tolls will travel to the free crossing even if they end up spending more
on gas or idling at the now totally congested Alex Fraser Bridge. That
leaves all the noise and pollution from all this traffic going right up
the hills into the Royal Heights, Annieville, Devon Gardens and Sunbury
neighbourhoods. In Sunbury this will be a three-tiered structure right
up the river bank ending up on an above-ground overpass with huge
environmental and community impacts.
Seems to me it was supposed to be a road way down by the river that
wouldn't affect very much.... Gateway has also offered nothing to the
long-standing residential areas that will be affected. No noise
mitigation is currently planned and when it is, it will be concrete
barriers that will permanently block the river view for most and only
give some sound relief for those immediately protected by the barriers.
All the other sound will go straight up the banks along with all the
traffic exhaust. There are four elementary schools in those areas and
trucks have no air care restrictions. Yes, some homes are going to be
expropriated, but unless your property is touched nothing is being
offered in the form of community compensation to anyone else! Gateway is
not willing to tunnel or cover this project. Nor are they seriously
willing to look at alternate routes or consider community compensations.
They just keep saying they do not have the funding for anything else.
Well, what about the communities whose property values will tumble and
whose health will become compromised because the government doesn't have
the money?
Does anyone know where our taxes and gas levies go? Do you think, just
maybe, it is pay back time?
If this has to be done, then please do it right. Either go under us or
around us!
Lynne March
Delta
published on 07/05/2006
The Leader - newsroom@surreyleader.com
The Now - tzillich@thenownewspaper.com
The Province - provletters@png.canwest.com
The Vancouver Sun - sunletters@png.canwest.com