Ap - ae “yo Provincial : officials were also on hand to answer questions from the public gbout the $22 million - Lonsdale interchange at -the $10 million Doijarton Bigh- way overhaul. A: scale model of the $85.mil- lion” Cassiar. Connector project was also on display. Stage one of the - four-stage Lonsdale interchange began soon after the $10.9 million construc- tion contract for the project was “awarded in’ June.to Langley’s -Miller Contracting Ltd. Traffic will remain on major existing streets. ‘during stage one, -but a number of smaller roads that feed on to the highway are now being closed, some permanently - The project to: build: highway erpasses at Lousdate, Avenue % nousced In October 1985, with | 2 delayed ‘until this year. Dave: Cunliffe, ‘conkd- foresee no major prob- ‘Nems with the chronically-delayed ‘dents over the construction start. = "It looks like a really straight ‘forward: job,” he. said.: “People ‘bave been anxiously, awaiting the ‘start of coxstruction, and. 1 think: ‘they are greeting “the signs of ‘construction with relief.” ‘Accordiag to plans for the in- ‘terchange, two lanes of. traffic will be maintained in both direc- dale throughout project con- “struction. «7 Highways spokesman Rob McLean said there will be minimal traffic delays. : ‘The project’s stage one, which is scheduled to $< compisted by December, involves the clearing and ground work for the inicr- change’s on and off ramps, and the new highway configuration mnebtly south of its current loca- ilen, Traffic will remein on major existing streets during stage one, hut a namber of smaller roads that feed on to the highway are now being closed, some perma- oently: ¢ Mahon Avenue access to the south side of the highway will be closed permanently at the lane uorth of West 24th Street; LONSDALE INTERCHANGE ighway improvement ‘projects unveiled THE PLANS for two multi-million dollar North Shore highways improvement projects were presented for public inspection Tuesday afternoon at the Coach House Inn. the Upper Levels Highway aud mstraction: scheduled ‘to, begin. iiss 7 4 ‘project : and has received tittle . “négative Ccedback from‘area res- tions on the highway and Lons-° By TIMOTHY RENSHAW News Reporter o.- Chesterfield Avenue im- mediately south of the Lighway will be closed temporarily north of West 24th Street; - e .St.. Georges Avenue im- mediately south of ‘the highway will be closed temporarily north of East 24th Street; e St. Andrews Avenue access to the sonth side of the highway wil! be closed permanently at the lane north of East 24th Street; And St. Georges Avenué north of the Upper Levels will be closed temporarily between East 26th Street and the highway. in addition, parking will be prohibited. along the westbound janes of the highwsy during con- straction. In the project's stage two, which is scheduled for July 1990 completion, north and seuth- ‘bound Lonsdale Avenue iraffic will be re-routed via 3 temporary bridge that will jog slightly cast over highway excevations. Eastbound highway traffic will be diverted to ramps running south of the highway and parallel fo excavations, while westbound traffic will run along existing, widened westbound highway lanes. Both Chesterfield and St. Georges. Avenue will then ‘be ~peopened to traffic. “Cunliffe sald thé - provincial government is currently. planning ‘show best to stage construction on the | accompanying. Westview Drive’ and Upper Leveis Highway : _He said-the process shéuld | be the next three fo four A poll of resident. preference for Westview ‘overpass Loop or Diamond design options was .couducted last year, . Bhat Caulitfe said the: split was aearly even, and the provincial gevernment has since chosen the Loop 2s.the best option from an . enginesting point of view. . Details of stages three and four “wiil be released 2t a inter date. Meanwhile, the $11 million, two-year. -Dollarton Highway overhaul is scheduled to begin in September... ‘A: 7.6-km section of the high- way, from’ McCartney Creek to Deep Cove, will be upgraded under the project to provide twa Isnes and a parking lane where possitie. In addition, the overhaul will include grade construction, in- stallation of a concrete sidewalk, gutters, curbs om one side of the highway, an enclosed drainage system and bus bays. Left turn fanes will also be provided at Dotiarton Highway iatersections at Roche Point Road, Dollar Road and Mount Seymour Parkyey. The existing watermain will be replaced along the highway dur- ing construction. Following the upgrade, Dollar- ton wii be deciassified as a pro- vincial highway and turned over to North Vancouver District. 3 ~ Friday, July 28, 1989 - North Shore News Photos Tom Burley NORTH VAN BUS DEPOT Closure put on hoid PLANS TO close B.C. Transit’s North Vancouver bus depot and base North Vancouver buses in Burnaby were put on hold July 21 by the B.C. Transit board of directors. The proposed move has been vehemently opposed by bus drivers, local bus users and the Vancouver Regional Transit Commission (VRTC), Transit staff cited the need to cover expanding bus service on the North Shoré as reason to keep the East 3rd Street depot open. According to B.C. Transit spokesman Diane Gendron, deci- sion on the ultimate fate of the ag- ing depot may be held up until the end of the year, pending comple- tion of a transit facility study. Said Gendron, ‘‘Because of the population growth everywhere, we’re doing a facility study that will look at the need down the road in al) areas, including North Vancouver.” The VRTC voted June ! to direct transit staff to explore all By MICHAEL BECKER News Reporter possible options of keeping North Vancouver buses on the North Shore. Meanwhile, local residents and transit workers belonging to In- dependent Canadian Transit Union Local 1, the union representing North Vancouver bus operators, proposed moving the 77 North Vancouver buses to the Lloyd Avenue depot, presently home to 28 West Vancouver Blue buses. But the move could cause labor trouble between ICTU and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the union representing West Vancouver bus system opera- tors. At a June 29 general meeting, ICTU members supported a notice Editorial Page........ Home & Garden... What's Going On........ Second Class Registration Number 3885 Crushing blow THREE CARS mixed it up ear- ly Tuesday evening at the in- tersection of East 19th Street and Grand Boulevard. Accord- ing to North Vancouver RCMP, the driver of the smashed up Renault (above) was attempting a left turn when collision occvsred with an on- coming vehicle. The second vehicle then crashed into a third vehicle. Right, Renanlt driver Jim Munro comforts passenger Kerri Gilmour. No one was seriously hurt, but the accident resulted in approximately $5,700 damage to the cars in- volved. of motion calling for the granting of ‘grandfather’ rights on West Vancouver work to West Van- couver ATU members. According to ICTU Local ! president Fred McCormack, if North Vancouver buses and the ICTU move to Lloyd Avenue and B.C. Transit absorbs the West Vancouver Blue Bus system, oper- ators working full tirae for West Vancouver Municipal Transit would be given first choice to do existing West Vancouver work. But said Eric Wailace, ATU Local 134 president and business agent, “I don’t expect that (the move) to take place. I don’t expect ICTU to be taking over any of West Vancouver. ICTU is putting the cart before the horse again. We fully expect West Vancouver wiii still be a separate entity. It has always been an excellent bus system run by West Vancouver. We're just sitting back and waiting until the ball stops bouncing.”’ WEATHER Friday, cloudy with sunny periods. Chance of showers. Saturday, mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Highs near 27°C.