ridge upgrade is no solution Dear Editor: Tam writing in response to cwo letters in the March 10 North Shore News reganhng the proposed repairs to Lions Gare Bridge. I am totally in agreement with Kabir Ebrahim: and James Stewart abour wasting so many mil- lions of dollars upgrading. This will do nothing to improve the uaffic problems on the bridge. Today on the news it was announced that Glen Clark et al have agreed to upgrade and add a fifth lane to the Port Mann Bridge. Obviously, this is political game playing. T would be happy to help in any protest that many be organized. C. 3. Morgan North Vancouver Dear Editor: Having travelled daily over the Lions Gate Bridge tor the past eight years, T have a few observations that may be helpful in the ongoing discus- sion about fixing or replacing the bridge. First, the bridge in its pre- sent and proposed state is a death trap. Over the years, I have noticed a disturbing trend occurring at the north end of the bridge, usually late at night and primarily on the weekends. I believe that 1 have personally witnessed the end result of approximately a dozen head-on accidents over the years on the north side. What happens is that the traffic going south on the bridge from the North Shore has use of only onc lane, while the northbound traffic has two lanes returning to the North Shore. Drivers heading south will sometimes in a split second forget that they have only one lane and pull out into the sec- ond lane causing a head-on accident with the oncoming car. - Whether these accidents are caused by alcohol, tired drivers returning = from Whistler, or just thinking that they had both lanes, there is absolutely no roony for cor- recting that split-second deci- sion. 1 would be willing to bet that there is much more work to be done than is currently being proposed. Expect to see the cost of renovation under the present proposal at over $100 million. I believe that the best option is to restore the bridge, and to build a tunnel. One of the beautiful benefits of living in this city, is the absolute beauty of driving over the bridge on a warm sunny after- noon. If we are always travelling through a tunnel, the effect is clearly lost. We should utilize the restored bridge travelling south, and the new tunnel would take the northbound traffic. I personally do not have a problem with a user-pay sys- tem and would welcome the tolls if it meant traffic efficien- cy. Having travelled to San Francisco numerous times, I am always in awe with travel- ling over the Golden Gate Bridge and am not too con- cerned about the toll that § just: paid. system of cles: tronic venders for frequent users would be a good: choice for any toll system thar we introduce. We need to have some vision in this province as to what we want to see for the next 250 years and work together to finance that vision, I find it somewhat embar- rassing when visitors tell me that it took two hours to get to my house from the airport because they were stuck on the bridge. Growth is going to contin- uc, and we need to address a long-term solutian today. Rust never sleeps. Brian Bernstein West Vancouver Dear Editor: Pm not sure at this late stage if the stink emanating trom our North Shore munic- ipal leaders about the plans for Lions Gate Bridge is a waste of time. There's absolutely no doubt in anybody's mind thar the NDP’s decision to reno- vate the bridge instead of upgrade or replace it is a very bad one. It’s worse than pour- ing taxpayers’ money into 4a hole in the ocean called “fast ferries.” But what were these fear- less leaders spouting when they had the opportunity: no tolls, no tolls. Well, you're getting what vou asked for and what you deserve, so please shut up and sit down! You didn’t have anything worthwhile to contribute THE GUIDE TO FLY then, you still dont. James Prunty West Vancouver Dear Editor: P would like to offer my view of a common sense solu- tion to the Lions Gate bridge situation, Ifthe Capilano to Georgia tunnel were built now instead of redecking Lions Gate then there would) be minimal dis- ruption because traffic would continue over Lions Gate vir- tually unimpeded during the bulk of tunnel construction. After the tunnel is built, the cost of preparing the Lions Gate to be a third cress: ing would be far fess because it could be closed down com- pletely during — redecking, which is much cheaper. Then when redecked, vehi- cles would have one Jane cach way over the Lions Gate but would be directed onto the existing turnoff to Prospect Point and drive through Stanley Park. The Stanley Park causeway would be strictly for buses, bikes, bladers and pedestrians or emergencies. This solution is not new but is a. slight: variation of Option 7(b) identitied by the Lions Gate Study group and was the option favoured by groups like Friends of Stanley Park. The only serious objec- tors to Option 7(b) came from the West) End Residents Association who would rather North Shore traffic go to the moon, There is no disrespect intended for the haidworking good people whe work for this organization. FISHING IN BC Be sure to catch our special fly fishirig feature running April 11. Their position is to oppose any urafhe connector going past them along Georgia and Beach including the present trattic, The failings of both the proposed Hans Bentzen and the D.BLAL mid-harbour tunnel, again with all) duc respect to the promoters involved, is that you end up needing massive infrastructure changes at cach end of the tunnel. It would ruin parts of the Pemberton Heights commu- nity on the North Shore because you would need a potentially billion dollar con- nectar fromthe tunnel’s mouth near North Vancouver's shoreline through the Pemberton community to connect to the Upper Levels Highway. On the south side, the mid- harbour tunnel would dump all the North Shore, Whistler and B.C. Ferry traffic onto or near Main St. in the Downtown East Side where it is already difficult for traffic to move through, The fost business to Whistler and the North Shore because people decide not to goo through =the traffic headache of crossing the bridges over the next two years could itself be in’ the hundreds of millions. Furthermore, with = the tunnel option you end up with three crossings not two so you are getting far more for the extra cost of'a tunnel. This bit of math seems to have completely escaped Glen Clark’s thinking. Paul Hundal West Vancouver Sunday, April 4, 1999 — North Shore News — 9 From time to time, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Plymouth vehicles are recalled. Your vehicle may have an outstanding recall notice. 1 It is very important that Mountview complete these outstanding recalls. lf you own a 1989- 1998 Chrysler vehicle, please call 980-343! and have your vehicle serial number ready. There is no cost for this service. ALL REMAINING 98 aed SELECTED 99 CANNONDALE SCHWINN GIANT GT VANCOUVER'S PREMIER CICLING ¢ OUTFITTER 3026 MOUNTAIN HWY. NORTH VAN. 988-1800 - next to Starbucks 999 PACIFIC ST BURRARD AT PACIFIC 662-4537 - downtown Vancouver