Provincial Review of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Provincial Review of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project

August 14, 2017 Regular Meeting of Council

PowerPoint Presentation Item F.11 Regular Meeting August 14, 2017 Page 1 of 9

Background

• July 10, 2017 Regular Meeting – report ‘The

Public Safety and Economic Imperative for the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project’

• July 27, 2017 – Mayor and CAO were denied

request to make presentation to Mayors’ Council

• n Regional Transportation
• July 28, 2017 – Mayor and CAO approved to make

presentation to Metro Vancouver Board

• August 3, 2017 – Mayor, CAO, Chief Constable

met with Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure

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Recommendations for new BC government

• Take time to make informed decision regarding

George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project

• Address current tunnel safety concerns, ensure

tunnel functions safely while in use

• Review and comment on significance of Hwy 99

as lifeline corridor for earthquake emergency response

• Review options for tunnel decommissioning,

including option to leave tunnel in place

• Delta staff to provide whatever assistance

required to facilitate process

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Time for Review

• New BC government should extend contract

award process for new bridge to review all technical information and project rationale

• 145 technical and scientific reports = 14,000 pages

– New BC government should make its own informed decision

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Immediate Safety Concerns

• Any replacement option is at least 5 years away
• Immediate safety issues include:

– Electrical system deficits: Original system still in use despite 30 year design life; may fail without warning, difficult or impossible to obtain parts – Deteriorating concrete: netting has been installed to prevent spalling concrete falling into traffic – Frequent damage to sprinkler system due to insufficient over-height vehicle warning system – Ageing ventilation system is causing extremely poor air quality inside the tunnel

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Lifeline Corridor

• Hwy 99 is classified as a ‘critical’ and ‘key’

route for disaster response

• Only Hwy 99 and Hwy 1 are ‘lifeline corridors’
• Lifeline corridors provide:

– Critical access to staging areas like major airports – First priority for initial reconnaissance and road response and restoration

• Delta is seeking review and comment on the

significance of the Hwy 99 corridor for emergency response

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Tunnel Decommissioning

• Current proposal includes decommissioning

and removing the tunnel once bridge is open

• Other options exist, including leaving the

tunnel in place (potentially allowing it to fill with water), which may:

– Be less costly – Be less environmentally damaging – Address concerns related to dredging the Fraser River to accommodate larger ships

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Conclusion

• Immediate action is needed to:

– Alleviate tunnel traffic congestion – Improve transit and alternative transportation options south of the Fraser River – Address seismic, emergency response, and public safety concerns

• The new BC government should be afforded the
• pportunity to make its own informed assessment
• f the alternative options regarding the George

Massey Tunnel replacement

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