tale of two communities

IT WAS the best of times; it was the worst of times.

The Lions Gate Bridge connects two cities with similar and differ- ent ideas for the bridge's successor.

The Lower Capilano Steering Committee (LCSC) represents approximately 9,000 residents living below the Upper Levels Highway between Capilano Road and MacKay Cree’

The West End Traffic Committee (WETC) currently represents 37,000 residents living in a nine-oy-[1 block area.

The WETC's mission statement is “to preserve and protect the unique and special qualities of Stanley Park and Vancouver's West End neighborhood by removing the automobile causeway through Stanley Park and eliminating bridge-to-bridge traffic on Vancouver's West End streets.” |

Both the LCSC cnd the WETC believe in restricting growth of pri- vate motor vehicle use and promoting alternative forms of transporta- tion such as cycling and transit.

Both ure fighting to preserve the character of their respective neighborhoods. ° .

‘If an automobile-oriented solution is proposed te. the Ministry of

Transportation and Highways (MoTH), then the two sides differ.

: The LCSC. advocates maintaining the status quo in terms of align- ment. They would prefer to see the existing bridge reconstructed to three wider-lanes with pedestrian and cyclist lanes.on the outside of ‘the cables...

They feel that additional car traffic would. be detrimental to the : character. of their. neighborhoods.

The LCSC is very:concerned about use of the MacKay Creck cor- ridor for a North Shore approach to-any Burrard crossing and do not consider i it realistic. .

» The corridor is part of three mid-harbor tunnel ‘oroposals,

The WETC, on the other hand; strongly advocates removing teaffi ic. trom Stanley Park and the Georgia Sireet corridor...

WETC spokesman Marie Hietakangas said the Georgie ’-being. rezoned -for ‘residential, high- density housing and, ‘along with , other developments, plans to house 109,000 to 150, 000 People i in the next:L0'to-15 years: : a

“We. will. fight to the death if an automobile Solution is found for. the 1e bridge,” she said. . ‘

Crossing concept

A) Rebuild bridge with wider lanes (3 lanes)

B) Reconstruction of existing bridge to 4 lanes

C) New bridge (5 or 6 lanes)

Treatment of road in Stanley. Park

Minor widening of existing road (3 lanes)

‘Depressed roadway widened to 4 lanes with some land bridges

New alignment of road with combination of

cost

bored tunnel as well as cut-and-fill tunnels

D) Mid-harbor crossing (5 or 6 lanes)

Construction

Toll Rate Peak Off-Peak

$150M 4/-

$275M +/-

NEWS graphic

Toll fees will be determined by the usage of the new cressing and the cost of its construction.

High-tech toll could be reality

THE MINISTRY of Transportation and Highways is exploring a user- pay system of financing any option chosen for Lions Gate Bridge.

The more expensive the option, the higher the toll.

- With 25 million crossings of the bridge being made annually, it would take only. four years to repay

‘a $100 million debt if a $1 toll were

instituied at all times. of the day, in _voth directions. If the toll were increased to $2 at

. the two rush hours, the: same $100

million could probably, be extin-

guished in two years,

However, one crossing could not be tolled successfully without the other Burrard crossing instigating a user-pay system.

The Second Narrows Bridge is crossed 40 million times per year.

A $1 toll on both bridges would produce $65 million annually if commuters continued to drive at the present rate.

The Greater Vancouver Regional District is considering placing tolls on all Lower Mainland bridges (not including the three

NETUPSKY CONCEPT

eS : A SIX LANE DOUBLE DECKED SUSPENSION BRIDGE PRESERVING THE EXISTING ARCHITECTURE AND . A SIX LANE DOUBLE DECKED ROADWAY (BURIED OR ELEVATED) THROUGH STANLEY PARK ALONG THE EXISTING ALIGNMENT

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

ADVANTAGES.

* Keep the graceful appearance of the bridge

* Minimum impact upon Stanley Park * Cost effective

* No wider right of way required through Stanley

‘Park

* No new bridgehead required in Stanley Park or

the North Shore -

* No change to Georgia Street or the North Shore

approaches

* Traffic will be maintained on the bridge and

through (he park during construction

*2-one way traffic decks provide for safer driving

conditions * No impact on marine traffic

CALL

NETUPSKY ENGINEERING CO. LTD.

VANCOUVER B.C. TELEPHONE 685-7712

False Creck bridges) as a deterrent to single-occupant drivers. °

Tolling would be done electroni- cally.

Frequent crossers of the new facility would have electronic transponders affixed to their vehi- cles and would have access. to express lanes where their vehicles would be scanned while they main- tained regular speed.

They would receive a crossing bill monthly in the mail.

_ Another technology can photo- graph vehicle’s licence plates.

TIONS GATE aE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

‘CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

1, Strengthen foundations 2. Strengthen towers

3. Install new cabies outboard, parallel & with same sag as existing |

cables

4, Suspend new hangers for upper deck 5. Install new stiffening trusses for new upper deck 6. Install new prefabricated upper deck, providing 3 - 12 ft. lanes

7. Redirect traffic to new upper deck

8. Apply preservative treatment and new wrapping to existing cables

9, Replace existing hangers as required . , ;

10. Replace existing stiffening trusses

11. Replace existing bridge deck with new deck, providing 3-12 ft. lanes -

13. Install sidewalk and cycle path outboard of stiffening trisses and away from traffic

During steps I through 12 the buried or elevated roadway would be built on the existing alignment through Stanley Park. Traffic would be maintained uninterrupted during the process.