A “monster” has resurfaced in Sapperton as part of the Brunette interchange project.
Last week, the province’s ministry of transportation unveiled three options for the Brunette interchange at public meetings in New Westminster and Coquitlam last week. About 500 people attended the two open houses, including 400 at the Nov. 3 meeting in Sapperton.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said the “monster” of an overpass proposed in one of the options is what killed previous plans for the United Boulevard extension and why details about the overpass aren’t yet available.
City of New Westminster staff has recommended the city put forward Option C as its preferred option (see sidebar at right), as it most closely aligns with New Westminster’s master transportation plan and has the least impact on Sapperton.
Lisa Leblanc, the city’s transportation manager, said all three options have benefits related to reduced travel time and improved public safety, access to Royal Columbian Hospital, goods movement and cyclist and pedestrian access. However, Leblanc said the city doesn’t believe the community impacts have been addressed adequately.
Option A includes an extension of United Boulevard via an overpass structure across Brunette Avenue.
“From a traffic operations point of view or motor vehicle volume point of view, this results in a very meaningful increase in volumes on Rousseau Street,” Leblanc said. “Currently, in the p.m. peak there’s about 75 cars per hour total on Rousseau Street. With this option, the analysis that the ministry has conducted to date seems to suggest that there would be 1,300 motor vehicles in both directions on Rousseau Street, so it changes it from a quiet local residential street to a secondary arterial.”
The City of New Westminster also opposes Option B as it would increase traffic volumes on Brunette Avenue and would result in local impacts associated with an extension of United Boulevard. While Option C is similar to Option B, Leblanc said it includes a tunnel component rather than an overpass.
Coun. Bill Harper expressed concern that the ministry didn’t provide information to the public about the options prior to the community meetings.
“They really didn’t know what they were getting into. For instance, the New Westminster people didn’t know that the UBE was back on the table for two of the three options. The third option is the most expensive,” he said. “The real question is are we going to be saddled with the UBE? My position, and I’ll say it right upfront, is no way. No way we are going back there.”
Coun. Patrick Johnstone said New Westminster and Coquitlam need to meet and discuss the project.
Mayor Jonathan Cote said the two cities haven’t always seen eye to eye on transportation issues in the past.
“If this become a typical situation, Coquitlam versus New West, I worry we might end up on the wrong side of that stick,” he said. “If we are actually able to have a dialogue and understand and can be approaching the province together, who knows, there might be some opportunities.”
What are the options?
Option A:
Brunette interchange with separate municipal connections. The main crossing of Highway 1 at the Brunette Avenue interchange is separated into two corridors – a two-lane corridor for local traffic crossing Highway 1 and a four-lane corridor for traffic entrant or existing Highway 1. The planning level cost estimate is $530 million.
Option B:
Blue Mountain interchange with United Boulevard Connection: This would see Blue Mountain Street extended over Highway 1 to United Boulevard; an intersection on the overpass would become the main access point to Highway 1, but some access to and from Brunette Avenue would be maintained. The planning level cost estimate is $510 million.
Option C:
Blue Mountain interchange with Braid industrial area connector. Similar to Option B, this option is centred on the Blue Mountain interchange overpass.; the direct connection been United Boulevard and Brunette Avenue is replaced by a two-lane connection from Blue Mountain Street to East Columbia Street via the Braid industrial connector and a tunnel under the rail lines and Brunette River. The planning level cost estimate is $620 million.
– Source: Ministry of Transportation
