Lions Gate Bridge options before committee include two plans for six-lane inlet crossing THIS IS the third story in a series of articles to facus an the many options now being considered in the _ search to resolve the problem of what todo with the aging Lions Gate Bridge. ' By Kevin Gillies Contributing Writer The previous instalment of this scries presented possible modifica- tions to the existing Lions Gate Bridge. Two proposals before the province, submitted by private * enginecring firms, turn the Lions ’ Gate. Bridge into a double-deck bridge. A. proposal. by Netupsky .. Engineering doubles the capacity of “the existing bridge by adding three fanes above the existing three lanes. Two levels roadway would run from the western tip of Georgia Street to the North Shore approach- es on Marine Drive. With the exception of changes to the towers, the bridge's outline would remain virtually identical to its present configuration. - Lions Gate's two towers would be extended upward. The tower sides would be supported with steel. r “Cables would be lowered from All options considered for Lions Gate Bridge JACKIE PEMENT, Minister of Transportation and Highways, con- irmed ‘recently that all options, both tunnel -and bridge, are being iven: full consideration in the -Lions Gate crossing review. Speculation that a five-lane.. tidge, was’.being given - the strongest. support by government as dismissed by Pement as prema- ture and without basis.” ' ‘The speculation stemmed from a preliminary overview of the envi- roimental and social impacts of the 2 options proposed. This was pro- ” duced as a summary of information the towers to match the profile of the existing cables, Hangers from the new cables would match the profile of existing hangers, except they would be slightly shorter. The new hangers would support trusses and the upper bridge deck. Company president Andrew Netupsky said the new deck would be built off-site and then installed while traffic coniinues to use the existing deck. Once work on the new deck is completed, traffic would be divert- ed to the new deck and the old deck would be removed and replaced. The plan calls for the construc- tion of viaducts over the Stanley Park causeway and the North Shore approaches to the bridge. Steel trusses and support beams would be anchored into the ground with conerete in Stanley Park. The viaduct would consist of three-Jane deck panels made of pre- cast, presiressed concrete. Each lane would be 12 feet (3.7 m) wide. Wetupsky said the viaduct would be pre-built and installed while traffic uses the existing causeway. The new deck would be located 13 feet (4 m) above the existing lanes, which would remain ai ground level. On the North Shore approaches, for the community focus group and other committees appointed to review the options. “The overview stated that mini- mum environmental and social impact would result from using the existing route because it would involve the least change to the environment and communities affected. “The overview, was intended as a point to open discussion among the various groups affected by the bridge decision and it certainly has been successful in this regard,” said Pement. & Trevor Lautens .... Wi Classified Ads: <.... BG Crossword. jome & Garden -....2.45. 2 Insights: rr i News of the Weird . ' Paul St. Pierre ..... B Your .Call.,........ Weather “Saturday, rain, high .7°C., low 2°C, *-", Canadian Publications Mait Sales Product Agreement Number 0087238 ‘READERS VOICE ' CALL US: 983-2208 steel would be affixed to the exist- ing structure to support the new viaduct. Netupsky said the upper deck could accommodate northbound or southbound traffic. Travelling north from Vancouver, one of Georgia Street's lanes would continue into Stanley Park. Near Lost Lagoon, three lanes would rise to the upper deck viaduct. Three lanes from the exist- ing causeway would continue on to Georgia Street. At the north end, two Janes of traffic would travel down to five lances eastbound on Marine at Capilano. Two lines would use the same alignment to West Vancouver. North Shore approaches to the bridge would remain the same with two lanes from North Vancouver and two lanes from West Vancouver merging into three lanes on the bottom deck. The proposal could incorporate a route to bypass the lights at Taylor Way and Marine. The two-tane bridge over the Capilano River could be widened. Netupsky said the project would tke two years to build and would cost between $ 100-150 million. Kt could be built within existing rights-of-way through Stanley Park and native land on the North Shore - and would fit into existing traffic patierns. No acquisition of land would be needed for the bridge although a small amount of Jand may be appropriated in West Vancouver if the clover-leaf option is pursued. tn Stanley Park, Netupsky said, “We don't have to chop a single tree down.” He said the causeway viaduct could withstand seismic activity. But the combination of old bridge and new bridge components would compromise the bridge's durability. Questions about the towers*® ability 10 handle the extra weight could persist, Ttie potential for traffic disrup- tion is significant if something should go wrong with the constrsic- lion process. A proposat from Paul Merrick Architects seeks to retain Lions Gate's historic form. The design’s creator, Roger Bayley, believes Lions Gate Bridge “is the icon of our city.” His proposal is promoted as the heritage choice. However, his method of maintaining the bridge's outline is completely different from Netupsky's. Bayley proposes to build a dou- ble-deck, cuble-stayed bridge using the existing towers and maintaining the existing cables for esthetic pur- poses only. A cable-stayed bridge has cables leading from the towers, directly to the deck at incremental angles. The Alex Fraser Bridge is cable-stayed, In this scheme, the two existing towers would be heightened, A new upper deck would be supported by the towers and cables leading from the top of the towers. The project would be built in lwo phases: The new upper deck would be built between 11:30 p.m, and 5:30 a.m. weekdays, for one year, Traffic would be diverted to the upper deck upon completion, The existing deck would then be removed und replaced, The final product would have three lanes per deck, two general- vehicle traffic Janes and one transit tine, The bridge also includes two cyclist lanes and two pedestrian janes. The North Shore interchanges would be doubled in capacity, but in Stanley Park the southbound lower deck would tunnel under the existing causeway. : Bayley would like te see the old causeway eventually turned into a - ‘historic park drive fied with old strectlights and signs. Bayley's scheme would cost approximately $170 million. Taekwondo anyone? Taekwondo anyone? Studenis from the North Shore Taekwondo. Centre, together with Taekwondo enthusiasts from @ North Vancouver RecCentre class, took part recenily in a mass work-out. The martial artists were gettin 5 at the Capilano Sportsplex. Should there be limits on NV. residential garbage pickup? | Nadine Loron North Vancouver District No, we shouldn't be limited. What am I supposed to do with my leftover garbage? J believe my garbage will be left on the road for along time. © Harold Stackhouse North Vancouver City » No. : ig ready for an upcoming tournament on Feb. Earlier this month West Vancouver limited residential garbage collection from single-family residential homes to three cans a week. In North © Vancouver there is no limit for single-family residential garbage pickup. Pat Filpon North Vancouver District Yes, there should be limits on our residential garbage pickup in North Vancouver. | THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: - Has the possibility of a major earthquake locally affected the way you live?” Jim Folkman North Vancouver District I don’t think there should be- limits on residential garbage pick- _up. It’s bad enough that we have to pay to take our garbage to the trans- . fer station. ‘