34 - Sunday, March 20, 1994 - North Shorea News A man with a WE ON the North Shore find it hard to be acade- mic about some sort of metamorphosis of the Lions Gate Bridge. For those of us who remem- ber when, that bridge repre- sents an umbilical cord — it was the bridge that brought us into our different lives here on the North Shore. You and J, out of the main- stream now, no longer using it daily to work, still take if for _ granted as the best route for driving to the big city. It’s how we get out of our North Shore rut, when we go _ to catch up with the world- : class stuff, the art, the music, the real money-men, the metropolis. Its:removal is unthinkable, «> if only for the sake of the. graceful necklace of tights in’ our night views. Similarly its ~ collapse from overwork. To imagine it widened or doubie- ' decked’scares us — how will they keep it all up there? “os And that would invite 7 increasing numbers of cars " and further the carnage -already created in the Park. : “+ "More trees felied. More - - toxic fumes. More disheart- “ened wildlife dying off... And you and I getting va leerier and leerier of driving | "Over the creaky old thing. _ | Now. actual proposals for ’ alternatives are being received. ., You got a questionnaire from your Member of Parliament asking for your view of which is the best idea to date. |. | ~The onty interest the Feds : _ could have in it would arise from‘a decision’ made to’ embrace ¢ causeway ¢ changes in ° Stanley, Park of a tunnel under it: The parklands come under ‘federal jurisdiction. ~ Apart from that, it is-a : - provincial- ‘municipal matter, “But most of all, itis a North © Shor €-people matter. Action i is being taken, . though. ' We learn from the papers that preliminary, examinations of all. suggested crossings have : _ begun, and so far we:only know that of the half-dozen _ submissions made,'the one Barbara Black’s THEATRE REVIEW alternate Wednesdays in the North Shore News Eleanor THE VINTAGE YEARS that shows the most imagina- tion has been singled out as questionable because it would be the most costly. Of course it would cost more, because Hans Bentzen’s design would give twice the value, - The tunnel he visualizes is based on eight lanes, not four, two of them for rapid transit. That‘could bring Skytrain to _ the North Shore. As well, he would use the - detritus to create not just new parkland but a magnificent housing ‘ite in the area of Brockton Shoal — the devel- opment of which would finance most of the entire undertaking. In addition, his projected tunnel — the North end to enter at the mouth of Mackay Creek, the South entrance in the area of Burrard arid Bute ~~ is planned to connect to the North Shore on the Upper : Levels system. On the park side, it would carry traffic as far as False Creek before _ emerging into the light of day.” Thus would the West End get its soul back again. It ‘could be at last the funky strolling place it has always longed to be. Stanley Park would be pre- served forever, a jewel envied by ‘every cily in the world, available any time to walkers and cyclists and gradually restored to tranquil health. The Lions Gate Bridge would keep its majesty, and it would no longer be a drain on the public purse because of annual obligatory renewals of its aging surface. Both bridge and park, icons of our younger years, safe for the romantics of all stripes. Hans Bentzen, the profes- sional engineer who was pro- ject manager of the Deas island tunnel under the Fraser River, has been involved in major engineering all over the world. Starting in Denm: ark, where he achieved his engineering degree, he’s done jobs of value in Venezuela, Uganda and in ~ our own Far North with the Arctic Pipeline. He is renowned for his knowledge of underwater tunnelling, and has been decorated for his mastery. The engineer could live anywhere in the world now but he’s chosen Vancouver as the best possible place to enjoy the rest of his years. That he could be instrumen- tal in solving the long-stand- ing problem of north-south _ vehicular interchange for this beautiful place would crown his outstanding career. He’s worked on the prob- lem for years, you see. His design isn’t an engi- . neering exercise worked up for acontest. | The first preliminary draw- ings were begun ‘vhen he was ‘in charge ofthe Deas (Massey) tunnel in the *60s. Five years ago he began to bring them up to date, and now he’s ready. He seems to have thought of everything we'll need. Dr. Dean Brown is. pleased to introduce Dr. Anis Lakha M.D. to his patients She will be taking over his practise as of March 11,1994 new patients are welcome 1110 160 E. ‘ath St. N. Van 988-0414 Receive 1 FREE Belgian . chocolate bunny* witha minimum: ° ~ purchase of $20.00. » ~ Limit one free bunny, | per customer. ° : _ Offer valid until March 29 at any of our: _nine locations including ° z v4 Royal Shopping | Centre . ” Cathedral Place & © Enter to win a huge. Robson Street. - chocolate bunny. Details at all ‘ House of Brussels Chocolates tocations. Wen you're dry and thirsty nothing quite hits the spot like pure spring water. And now you can have it delivered right to your door by Springfield! While much of the bottled water presently being supplied to homes and offices is merely treated and bottled tap water, Springfield Premium Spring Water comes from our own private and protected artesian spring in the Coastal Mountain Range. Our pristine source gives you pure And it's salt and chlorine free. water. No pollutants, No pesticides or herbicides. So don't settle for bottled tap water — make Springfield Premium Spring Water your gatural choice. Call us now to find out about our free introductory offert 43,3 +5433