February 6, 2006

Gateway to Provide 17,000 person-years of employment

The Gateway transportation proposal, according to statistics released by the provincial government, will create 17,000 person-years of direct employment and will contribute $1.7 billion to B.C.’s gross domestic product. The components and details of the plan are listed below.

*The North Fraser Perimeter Road including the new $180 million six-lane Pitt River bridge (announced April 2005)will connect Maple Ridge through to New Westminster. The road will require a series of upgraded roads and bridges to make a continuous route from along the Fraser’s north side from New Westminster to Maple Ridge. A new interchange at the Lougheed Highway and the Mary Hill bypass are proposed. Bike lanes will be part of the revamp. Environmental assessment began in 2005 for the Pitt River bridge with a report expected this year.

*The South Fraser Perimeter Road connecting Delta Port with the Golden Ears Bridge and Highway 1 in Surrey. The perimeter road is a four-lane. 80-km/h route from Deltaport Way to the new bridge and delivers traffic on towards the border. The federal Pacific Gateway Strategy has committed up to $2 million for the environmental assessment review process.

*Twinning the Port Mann Bridge will allow for the re-introduction of transit service and include the potential for future light rail transit. The bridge was built in 1964 when Vancouver’s population was 800,00 compared to today’s population of 2.1 million. In the next 25 years, the Lower Mainland population is expected to add another 900,000 residents, the population of Nova Scotia today. The new proposal provides for bike lanes on both bridges. The highway to Langley is being widened to four lanes in both directions. And, also provides for HOV lanes into Langley.

*A $50 million investment in cycling infrastructure. Under the proposal, all highway or bridge builds would see more bicycle lanes designed into them.

For further information on the Gateway proposal, maps, artists renderings and other details see www.gatewayprogram.bc.ca.

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