4 ~ Wednesday, September 22, 1999 — North Shore News wa rs NEWS photo Ulke Wakolield TWO hundred signatures and counting: West Van's Marion Nodwell with her peti- tions to widen the Lions Gate Bridge causeway janes. A public information meet- ing will be held Thursday, Sept. 23, starting at 6 p.m. at the West Van Seniors Centre, 695 21st St. Petitions will be available on site. ridge suit sought Michei Comte : Contributing Writes THE ongoing debate about the width of the Stanley Park causeway may go to court if the province continues to ignore its own highway construction standards, West Vancouver Coun. Victor Durman warned Monday. At the evening council meeting, Durman put forward a motion to sue the province if it refuses to enforce its own regulatians — which stipulate that the width of highway lanes should be 3.2° metres. Construction is going on now to widen the sidewalk along the road, but the road lanes them- selves will remain 2.9 metres wide, duc in part to pressure put on by the Vancouver Parks Board to minimize impact of motor vehicle traftic on Stanley Park. Upgrades to the Lions Gate Bridge meanwhile include wider lanes (3.6 metres). The decision not to widen the stretch of road from the bridge to downtown Vancouver has drawn much criticism trom North Shore residents because the narrow causeway has been the site of several car accidents over the years. “Everybody talks about building safe roads and here we are building a substandard road. You spend all this money widening the bridge and when you get to the causeway, it nar- rows,” Durman said. If the province chooses to ignore concerns of North Shore resi- dents, Durman believes it will open itself up to more lawsuits trom anyone who is involved in 2 car accident on the narrow road, he said. John Doyle of the B.C. Transportation Financing Authority, which is responsible for the bridge and causeway upgrades, said: the province's hands are tied. “We're stuck. The province has always said ir wants the same traffic lanes on the bridge and the causeway, but dhe park coard said their mandate is to protect the park and the province has no unilateral abili- ty to take land from the park to widen the causeway,” Doyle said. Council will vote next week whether or not to pursue legal action against the province, the financing authority, the park board and the City of Vancouver. LNG tank proposal not popular Frout previous paac export, he said. Broughton said SCRD directors were told by most speakers ata Sepr. 11 public hearing on the Sunshinz Coast that the tank isn’t wanted. Directors received letters of opposi- tion from Sunshine Coast MLA Gordon Wilson, West Vancouver Mavor Pat Boname, Squamish Nation band councillor Gibby Jacob and Whistler Mayor Hugh O*Reilly. She said the project is proposed for a high varthquake zone and worries about the effcets of a major lightning storm, like the one thar roared through the Lower Mainiand in August 1997 and took Environment Canada forecast- ers by surprise. One tremor or bolt of light- ning, she said, could create a “mini- Hiroshima. “Westcoast is interested in the project tor reasons of swelling their share price, whether in West Vancouver I by Cargo confiscated for non-payment they build the project or not.” Broughton said. She hopes the proposed rezoning will be defeated so politicians and planners can begin 2 comprehensive process to determine the future of Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast. Thorneycroft concedes the proposal is not popular and that some of the heaviest apposi- tion has come from Broughton, He accused her of “the worst kind of tearmongering.” He said McNab Creek is subject to the same earthquake risks as the rest or the Lower Mainland, but the rank will be reinforced with seismic resistance similar to that of the Seymour Dam upgrade. He also denied light- ning will be a significant risk, adding that appropriate measures will be made to protect the rank from thar danger. He said BC Gas safely operates an LNG faciliey at Tilbury Island near Delta. aie ae Mew handknotted carpets from 1’ x 1’ up te 10’ x 14’ of pure siik, wool, camel hair and natural fibre TABRIZ, NAIN, GHOM-SILK, HERIZ, BOKHARA, CHINESE, Date: Time: Public viewing from 1:60 pm. Auction at 2 pm. Alt items clear of liens and encumbrances. Each item properly labeled by Oriental Rug Auction Ltd. Winners responsible for GST and PST. 10% handling charge to G2 edded. Terms: Cash, Visa, M/C, Amex, certified cheques. All Saics final, Proceeds lo benefit: ————— VANCOUVER ART CALLERY Sponsors: ase HE sofa © epee