Anna-Louise Pentland
Contributing Writer

LIONS Gate Bridge project stake-
holders are considering the possibility
of completing all work on the bridge
deck at night.

_ Worker safety continues to be a major issue
for the project. Night work only would extend
construction past the projected year-end comple-
tion date.

Though there are not vet estimates of how
much longer the project would take if work on
the deck was completed only at night, Ron
Crockett, project’ manager for American
Bridge/SureSpan said it would have “a substan-
Ual impact on the completion schedule.”

Because of a preventive order issued by the
Workers Compensation Board fast Friday, an
additional two or three flag people and a waftic
safety supervisor are on the bridge to slow traftic
this week. “If it appears effective, we will contin-
ue (this week). if, not, the workers will come off
the bridge,” Crackett said.

— Move would lengthen duration of project

He said waffic only stows down where the tlag
people are, and then. speeds up again. Bur he
stressed that having additienal flag people is only
an intern sneasute.

“There's awo issues — speed and ne physical |
barriers, This doesn’t eliminate the problem we

have of the proximity of the workers t the traf-
fic,” he said. “One of the sofutions we are very
scnously considering ‘is doing ail the work at
night. Technically, we can do it, it just takes gwice
as long.” .
There is no room to erect an effective
restraining barrier between the taflic and the
workers while three lanes of traffic continue to
cross the bridge. The B.C. ‘Transportation
Financing Authority (RCTFA) will not allow
American Bridge/SureSpan to close lanes during

the day because of heavy waffic volume, but one

lane may be closed at night and the two remain-
ing lanes centred to create more space for work-
ers.

Jim Hughes, WCB regional manager for

Terminal plan

f blasted by

Jan-Christian Sorensen

Bay residents

Contributing Writer

A spokesman for a West _
Vancouver. citizens coali-
tion says BC Ferries has
reneged on a pledge'to
work with stakeholders
to develop a long-term
plan regarding the .
future of the Horseshoe
Bay terminal.

The Crown corporation
unveiled its new five-year,
$394-million capital plan yes-
terday. One of the major pro-
jects identified in the plan
involves marine | structure
replacements and upgrades to
Horseshoe Bay. ;

“What BC Ferries is saying
goes against what they told
us,” said Citizens’ Against
“Ferry Terminal Expansion
(CAFTE) member _ Jeff
Peterson. “That they would sit

down with us and develop a-

long-term plan.” ;
“There should: be an all-
encompassing study instead of
iecemeal solutions to _prab-
‘tems today that are going to
disfigure Horseshoe Bay forev-
er.” i
Other first-year major pro-
jects and programs included in
BC Ferries’ plan are:
@ reacquisition of the former

G start of a sewage treatment
improvement program,
including the installation this
year of new sewage treatment
plants of two vessels;

@ marine structure replace-
ments of upgrades at
Departure Bay, Powell River
(Westview), Comox (Little
River), Earls Cove and Long
Harbour.

@ extensive terminal and vessel
upgrades and repairs, includ-
ing upgrades to life-saving
equipment and passenger facil-
ites.

Part of the — planned
upgrades to the Horseshoe
Bay terminal would involve
blasting a large portion of the
bay’s northside rockface to
create room for a 10-lane wide
holding compound for vehi-
cles awaiting ferries.

“That will mean a greater
number of cars with their
engines idling up there,” said
Peterson. “The amount of pal-
lution down in the bowl in the
bay is going to be a problem,
and think about the scar on
the face of the mountain
where they remove the rock.”

“It’s a gross disfigurement
of Horseshoe Bay.”

Peterson fears that the 10-
lane compound may also kit
local merchants and retailers in
the pocketbook.

“They've waffled on

Wednesday, May 10, 2000 - North Shore News ~ 3

North Vancouver, said the new safery plan may
include erecting a six-foot (1.83 in) steel fence
on the edye of the sidewalk to stop anvthing
extending trom vehicles from hitting workers.

* Last Wednesday a worker was struck by the mir-

ror of a passing car while walking to his work site.
A fence would protect workers walking on che
sidewalk on their way to their work sites under
the: bridge, but it would. not be adequate for
these who remain on the bridge to work. The
barrier would not block vehicles from crossing
on to the stdewalk, ‘

American Bridge /SureSpan is responsible for
worker saicty and will be making the decision
about how best to meet the WCB order, even if
it means losing seme money.

John Doyle, director of communications for
the BCTEA, said there could be a penalty on the
fixed price contract if it is extended by a number
of months, “Bur I don’t want to get into that,”
he said. Crockett declined to comment on any
contractual implications. . a

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

Full cycie

ALI Tompkins (left) and Chelsea Young have replaced their sad faces from fast

American Bridge /SureSpan must have a new
safety plan in place before the the end of this
weekend’s scheduled closure.

The Lions Gate Bridge will be closed to trai:
fic 10 pam. Friday, May 12, to 10 am. Sunday,
May 14.

The BCTFA also advises that drivers using
the Stantey Park Causeway and the Lions Gate
Bridge to May 18 can expect week-night detours
to allow for causeway widening. Traffic may be
diverted through Stanley Park Monday through: .
‘Thursday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.. and delays can
be expected. Detour routes will be marked.

Drivers heading north to the bridge should
follow Georgia Sueet to Pipeline Road and then
Park Drive, which leads to the bridge. Movcrists
heading south from the bridge should cross
under the Prospect Peint overpass and tike the
exit to Park Drive, which teads to Georgia Street.

Sundzy through Thursday nights to May 26,
drivers can expect delays and single-lane closures *
on the bridge in preparation for the bridge ‘deck

‘replacement. Tune to FM 94.5 for updates. For

24-hour recorded information call 473-1500 or
toll free at 1-877-473-0202. ;

Chamber |
pushes.

traffic

a : : L m7
: Y ceo
solutions |

Michael Becker

News Editor
mbecker@nsnews.com
THE North Vancouver
Chamber of Commerce
is seeking assurances
that traffic will flow as
freely as possible when
the Lions Gate Bridge
construction crunch 4
hits. im

On Friday, chamber chair-
man David Moulton present-
ed Geoff Freer, project direc-
tor. with the Lions Gate

Project, the following sugges- : . -

tions:
@ bridge closures on Sunday :
and Monday nights only to’
reduce the financial impact on
North Shore attractions and.
restaurants; t
@ provide guarantees of dates
and times of closure to allow
North Shore businesses an
opportunity to advise clients -
regarding scheduling; |
@ open a northbound. lane
early and leave a southbound
lane open fate to allow early
travellers to make their way to
Whisder and to the ferries; |

Gaessseweey MB provide consistent alterna-
tives. The chamber is sup- ./ .

porting North. Vancouver
City’s push for free parking ©
and some free transit services
on the North Shore during
the bridge closure period.

g
4

Wednesday's front page with big smiles. The giris' stolen bikes were returned to
them late last week. A Northlands Golf course worker found the bikes In bushes near
the golf course. Chelsea's bike had a bent frame and could not be fixed. Chelsea’s
mother, Leslie, said Cap's Bicycles on Marine Drive gave her daughter a like-new
bike to replace her ruined one, which was bought at the North Vancouver store.

Injured biker rescued in Lower Seymour |

NORTH Shore Search and Rescue was involved
in a pair of incidents this past weekend.

whether they would lock peo-
le into that compound in the
ay, but the chances are they

Queen of Burnaby, .
Ma new 110-car ferry suitable
-; for smaller routes;

The chamber supports. free
SeaBus service from the date :

See Free page 13 _

- TODAY’s News
presents the inaugural
instalment of Living

See Traffic page 1
“Room, a weekly guide
to life at home on the

livingroom

Starting on page 15, you'll find gardening advice from
_ our regular contributor Roy Jonsson and home decorating
tips fromm Barb Lunter as well as several new features. We'll
tell you what’s on in the community for the whole family
to enjoy, share tips from the renovation experts and offer
advice’on how to make your house a home.
In future issues, we'll look at creating a harmonious
‘home using the Asian practice of feng shui, show how to
start an arr collection and offer a peak into the diary of a
. do-it-yourself renovator in Tiddley Cove. Warch for
“Living Room in every Wednesday’s News. We hope you

enjoy it.

ager Tim Jones. .

Shortly thereafter North Shore Rescue assisted in the search
for 16-year-old Nick Downs, who was reported missing by fam-
ily around noon.

The 1991 silver Mercedes Downs was driving flew over a
bridge railing at Cypress Creek and plunged abour 100 metres.
Downs died in the accident. .- ” re

Working with the West Vancouver Police Department, Talon
Helicopter company and local residents, North Shore Rescue
discovered the car late that afternoon. —

“All the agencies worked well together to ascertain the loca-
tion of the car,” said Jones. “It was a combined effort.” So

Downs’ family has asked that donations be made in. Nick’s ©
name to North Shore Rescue. me :

A. call came in early Sunday afternoon about a mountain
biker that had injured herself while riding on the Ned’s Atomic
Dustbin trail in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve in
North Vancouver District. ‘

The biker sustained a serious fracture of the lower leg while
navigating the trail.

The rescue was a combined effort between North Shore
Rescue, the BC Ambulance Service, the North - District
Vancouver Fire. Department and Greater Vancouver Regional
District Watershed officials. .

“The patient was given morphine for the pain and trans-
ported to Lions Gate Hospital,” said North Shore search man-

— Jan-Christian Sorensen