IONS GATE Bridge has defined the Vancouver and North Shore skylines for over half a century... By A.P. NcCredie and Kevin Gillies That is about to change. Before we mark the year 2000, the First Narrows crossing will likely look much different from what it looks like today. The Ministry of Transportation and Highways is currently looking at a handful of engineering propos- als to take the crossing into the 21st century. The options, designed to uans- port the 25 million vehicles that annually travel over the historic span, range from doing little to per- forming major engineering feats. Doundle-decked bridge struc- tures, underground tunnels, mid- harbor locations — the proposals are as varied as the opinions that the Lions Gate Bridge inspires. And because over 90% of vehi- cles using cither of the two Burrard Inlet crossings are driven by North Shore residents, your opinions count the most. At the bottom of the page is a clip-out questionnaire. Fill it out and send it in. We'll publish the results in a special Lions Gate Bridge feature on Sunday, March 27. ¢ Thurs., | «Tues, March 15, at 508 Burley Dig We i oN March 17, at 810: W, Zist Soe Mon., March 24, at 515 W. Hastings § * Open houses run from noon: to 9 p.mi. * North Vancouver Liberal Riding. TAssociat ~host.a got arch 19,9 a.m. 700 Olt Lillocet Ras, North ai ublic forum on: Lions. ‘Gate: pa Hi ptions: tor: Int NEWS photo Mike Wakefield GOVERNMENT-sponsored public meetings are scheduted to start this week on the North Shore to discuss the tate of Vancouver’s deteriorating Lions Gate Bridge: _ Bridge or tunnel? Over 14 proposals on the table THE FOLLOWING i is a list of First. Narrows bridge and. tun- ‘nel proposals béing considered by. the Ministry of Transporta- ion-and Highways. ‘One’ of the:designs will be used as the basis for a new First Narrows Tossing. : MODIFY ‘EXISTING BRIDGE (three or four lanes). Type: suspension (cable-stayed four lanes).:.) Cost: $85 million’ (three lanes); 7.$115-$240 million (four lanes). ‘North Shore connection: same. ‘South Shore connection: same. Construction time: two to three “Years; possible weekend or night ridge closures. Environment/Stanley “Park: widening of causeway. ff DOUBLE-DECK BRIDGE (five or six Janes). ’"Fype: cable-stayed, Cost: $115-$240 million. North Shore connection: same. South Shere connection: tunnels under park to West Georgia. Construction time: two to three years; possible weekend or night closures. ; Environment/Stanley Park: tun- neling in park. General comment: could. use existing cables for esthetic purpos- 25. fi DOUBLE-DECK BRIDGE (six Janes). Type: suspension. Cost: $175 million. North Shore connection: same. South Shore connection: cause- way in park to West Georgia. Construction time: two to three years; built while existing bridge in use. Environment/Stanley Park: fic stacked on causeway. BH NEW BRIDGE (four or five lanes). Type: cable-stayed. Cost: $135-$360 million. North Shore connection: same. South Shore connection: West Georgia; new causeway alignment, Construction time: two years. Environment/Stanley Park: tun- nel or causeway. 8 FIRST NARROWS TUNNEL (four lanes). . Type: bored. Cost: $240-$300 million. traf- North Shore connection: current bridge interchange: South Shore connection: end of West Georgia, under Stanley Park. Construction time: two to three years; while existing bridge in use. Environment/Stanley Park: tun- nel under park. General comment: retains bridge for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. B® ZOO TUNNEL (six lanes). Type: immersed tube. - Cost: $300-$400 million. North Shore connection: Marine Drive at Capilano Road. South Shore connection: Wes! Georgia at Denman. Construction time: two years; while existing bridge in use. Environment/Stanfey Park: cut General comment: could retain existing bridge structure for pedes- wrians and bicycles... @ KROCKTON TUNNEL (six general plus two transit lanes). Type: immersed tube on seabed. Cost: $1.2 billion; cost reduced through newly- developed real estate., - North Shore connection: MacKay 7 Ave. (possibly to Upper Leveis Highway). South Shore connection: Thurlow Street area; bypass to False Creek. Construction time: four to five: - years; island built adjacent to park. Environment/Stanley Park: miss- es park; impact on Coal Harbor marine life. General comment: could retain and cover tunnel through park. Crossing survey vera nn eme eam mmes mame arnn mmm mare emm my existing bridge. Upper Levels Hwy. . Leah tnelermet Prograen CHOICES NORTH SHORE residents use the Lions Gate Bridge | more than anyone else, so the North Shore News wants to know what you think. Please check one. Where parentheses are beside a choice, please circle one of the choices inside the parentheses, 1) Do nothin ng en ity isting bridge + (3 wider lanes) « | m nas oxtating bridge tcto 4lanen Lorsdale Ave. 1) I live in: © North Vancouver CG West Vancouver & Vancouver ; Q Other? 2) In one week, I cross the Lions Gate Bridge: , . Siess than 5 times. 1 6-10 times. . 11-15 times. Ci more than 15 times. _ 3) I would be willing to pay a toll (at rush hour) of: 2 Nothing & $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 1 $2.00 $2.50 © more than $2.50 [wi Brockton bridge or tunnel as 4) T feel the best solution is (circle one in parentheses): Renovate bridge (3 or 4 lanes) © New bridge (4 or 5 lanes) 2 6-lane, double-deck bridge (suspension or cable-stayed) CO Tunnel (fs there a specific one?- ) Haxtings SI. See eee eee ee eee eee ee eee eee nme nme [uuons GATE CROSSING The Range of Considerations fires Kiake Wiha % Responses can be mailed, to or dropped off at, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., N. Vancouver, V7M 2H4, or they can be faxed to 985-2104. The results will be published in the Nerth Shore News’ special Lions Gate Bridge pull-out feature on March 27. NEWS graphic Joan Pedersen 0 Sm ee oe Ame Se me A a Oe ee A eS A St nk Be oe ee ne ee ae me eo mt ety 8 8 et 8 kt otk He SO ve ne a om oe a tne ym en) Transportation corridors designated for further study by the Ministry of Highways.