THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

222 Office, Editorial 985-2131 Display Advertising 98

.

One more way
to melt pesky ice

et a3

: North. Shore

Test drive
the Hyundai Scoupe

0-0511 Distribution 986-1337

Photos Richerd Stokes

FIRE MET ice Tuesday morning when a North Shore Taxi cab caught fire on
Silverwood Crescent in North Vancouver (ieft). According to a North Shore Taxi
spokesman, the car was stuck in snow when the driver saw smoke billowing from
the engine compartment. The driver waiked to a nearby house to call the fire
department. On return, the car was in flames. North Vancouver District Fire
Depariment firefighters arrived on scene (right), but the 1981 Pontiac was

destroyed.

Ree blasts overpass design

MLA takes highways minister
to task over diamond decision

NORTH VANCOUVER-Capilano MLA Angus Ree has
blasted a recent decision by Transportation and Highways
Minister Rita Johnston to incorporate a diamond design in
the $22-million Westview Drive and Upper Levels Highway

interchange project.

The decision to use the dia-
mond rather than the loop-style
interchange design was made
earlier this month, following a
coatinuing controversy raised by
area residents over the two
designs.

1, cunouncing the diamond
design, Johnston said, ‘‘The pro-
posed Westview interchange will
eliminate a major traffic bot-
tleneck on the Upper Levels
Highway and will greatly enhance
traffic flows and safety. [t reflects

By Surj Rattan
News Reporter

the wishes of North Vancouver
City Council and is the result of a
comprehensive public consultation
and planning process.”’

But Ree said the decision to use
the diamond design runs counter
to the advice of council's
engineering department and the
recommendations of an indepen-

North Vancouver-Capilano MLA
Angus Ree ... wants to see job
done right.

dent consulting group that was
hired by the highways ministry.

He also claimed that the only
reason city council agreed to sup-

aN

Hiighways Minister Rita
Johnston ... decision retlects
city’s wishes.

port the diamond design was
because of public pressure from a
group opposed to the loop.

“They were the more active

RI

group,"’ Ree said. ‘‘They went to
council and supported the dia-
mond design. I phoned the city
engineer and he said he was never
asked for his advice. He wanted
the loop.”’

Ree added that the loop design
would enhance the north-south
traffic flow on Westview Drive
without any restrictions for east-
west traffic on the Upper Levels
Highway.

“I’ve been working 12 years for
the interchanges (including the
$22-million Lonsdale and Upper
Levels interchange currently under
construction) and ! want to see it
done right. I’m very upset at the
minister of highways,” said Ree.
“She made the decision because
of councii’s decision that was not
made with good advice.””

Ree said the diamond desien

See Consultants page &