The City of New Westminster has asked emergency vehicles to refrain from driving on the waterfront esplanade as much as possi-ble until an inspection determines why some of the brick pavers are becoming loose.
A Quayside resident contacted The Record after being told that the city had banned fire vehicles from driving on the esplanade because of safety issues. He expressed concern about how firefighters would respond to riverfront residences in the event of fires and other emergencies, the condition of the esplanade and the lack of signage advising motorists that the esplanade was off-limits.
The senior, who asked not to be identified, said he learned of the esplanade issue when crews doing repairs on his condo were told they couldn't bring heavy vehicles onto the esplanade. After receiving a limited response to an email he sent to several city officials, he contacted The Record about potential safety issues on the esplanade.
Jim Lowrie, the city's director of engineering, said the city will be examining why some of the paver bricks on the esplanade have been settling in certain areas.
"In response to localized settlements identified on the Quayside esplanade, the city will be undertaking a detailed investigation and inspection of the existing wooden bulkhead wall at low-river levels prior to the annual spring freshet," he said. "It is anticipated that this inspection will assist in identifying (the) location and extent of sub-surface settlements and help identify corrective action required."
Until that inspection takes place, the City of New Westminster has restricted heavy vehicles from using the esplanade, though emergency vehicles are allowed in the area in certain situations as needed.
"This is a general limitation only," Lowrie said. "However, emergency vehicles may access the paved portion of the esplanade on an as-needed basis as situations warrant."
The esplanade is the paved area along the waterfront that is located on land and supported by a wooded, piled bulkhead. The boardwalk is the wooden structure that's built over the river.
"What we think is happening is the fine filled material behind the bulkhead is moving between the wooden timbers," Lowrie said. "It is a timberpiled bulkhead wall."
Lowrie said the rise and fall of the tide in the Fraser River could also be dragging some material out from under the boardwalk.
The City of New Westminster is retaining a consulting engineer to help investigate the matter.
"As a pre-cautionary measure, we have restricted heavy fire vehicles from the esplanade," Lowrie said. "We have service vehicles going up and down the esplanade all the time."
Fire Chief Tim Armstrong said there are other routes that fire trucks can use to access the waterfront and all of the buildings have other entries that firefighters can use to access Quayside buildings.
He said standpipe connections are located on the waterside of buildings and on Quayside Drive.
"The buildings were designed for access on both sides, the waterside and Quayside Drive," he said.
Armstrong toured the Quay neighbourhood with the resident on Thursday morning.
The resident told The Record that he showed the fire chief the maze of walkways at the riverfront residences to ensure he was fully aware of the challenges posed if fire crews had to fight a fire at the Quay.
According to the resi-dent, the fire chief indicated he would ask his crews to do some training exercises in the area because of the complexity of the buildings.
"It's a start. I think maybe all that has happened is we have started the ball rolling," said the resident. "They really have to get that problem of erosion sorted out."
The Quayside resident noted that he's seen moving and delivery trucks on the esplanade.
"There are bollards in place to prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering the esplanade area," Lowrie said. "The city will be placing additional signage to indicate that unauthorized vehicles are not permitted on the esplanade."
Lowrie said any vehicles accessing the esplanade must get the city's permission.
"It is gated off to prevent the public from accessing that area," he said. "It is not a public roadway."
In addition to the esplanade, the local resident also expressed concern about the safety of vehicles on the wooden boardwalk.
He said a forklift went through a portion of the wooden boardwalk a couple of years ago, in an area near the commercial parts of the Quay.
According to Armstrong, a truck that drove out onto the waterfront last year also broke through the wooden boardwalk.
He said additional signage was erected after that incident to ensure motorists know they're not supposed to drive on the boardwalk.
Lowrie said the wooden boardwalk in front of the market is privately owned and isn't maintained by the city.
