New Westminster is seeking a little help from its friends to improve connections between regional roadways.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr recently put forward a motion to city council that New Westminster ask the provincial government to intervene and have an independent assessment done of access to the new Port Mann Bridge from the South Fraser Perimeter Road, and to consider the efficient movement of goods to the northeast sector and the long-term air quality for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley as part of that assessment.
The motion, which was supported by council on June 18, will also seek to get support from neighbouring municipalities for an independent assessment to be done by the province.
Puchmayr appreciates that TransLink has indicated it's willing to discuss the implications of projects such as the Port Mann Bridge and South Fraser Perimeter Road, but he's not holding his breath that any changes will be made that address environmental and transportation concerns.
"It's better than where we were," he said. "TransLink is a huge company. It is a massive company the province created."
Puchmayr is concerned that there's no direct access for trucks wanting to access the Port Mann Bridge from South Fraser Perimeter Road, which is located on the Surrey side of the Fraser River. He fears more trucks will head to the Pattullo Bridge and travel through New Westminster, which won't have tolls.
Puchmayr isn't sure whether TransLink's decisions are considered on the basis of issues like goods movement and air quality and environmental concerns, or if other business factors take precedence in its decision-making process.
"The thing that concerns me is they are building an $800-million road and a $2-billion bridge and they are not connecting them," he said.
Although TransLink has agreed to meet with New Westminster and Surrey to review a variety of transportation issues, Puchmayr believes an independent assessment is still warranted. He feels there are air quality and health concerns associated with the lack of connection from South Fraser Perimeter Road to the Port Mann Bridge.
Instead of accessing the bridge directly, Puchmayr said trucks would have to take a 15-kilometre detour that sees them traveling under the Port Mann Bridge, continuing on South Fraser Perimeter Road along the river, travelling up a steep grade and entering the freeway at the Cloverdale exit.
