For residents living at 38 Leopold Pl., Randy Walker says the proposed Pattullo Bridge replacement project would be like “watching Godzilla come out of the ocean, terrifying and unwanted.”
Construction of the new tolled, four-lane bridge to replace the 79-year-old crossing isn’t expected to start until spring 2019. It’ll have wider lanes and a centre median separating traffic, as well as a designated walking and cycling path on both sides of the bridge. It will also be designed in such a way to allow for the addition of two more lanes in the future.
But Walker, who owns a suite on the fifth floor of the Eagle Crest tower overlooking the waterfront, tells the Record he and many of his neighbours are not happy with the two connection options TransLink presented to them at a public consultation meeting on June 16.
Option A would be similar to today. The new bridge would connect to New Westminster via the existing bridge approach and then onto McBride Boulevard. A free-flow ramp from Royal Avenue would continue to provide direct access to the new bridge. Northbound traffic destined for Royal Avenue would exit the bridge via a loop ramp that would lead to the McBride Boulevard and Royal Avenue intersection. Part of the plan includes realigning a local road connection, which currently acts as a thoroughfare, outside the Leopold Place condominium. The realignment would cut through existing green-space and bring traffic closer to residents in that building, Walker argues.
Option B would see the bridge connect to McBride Boulevard directly. Access between the bridge and Royal Avenue would be provided through a larger intersection at McBride. Northbound traffic from the bridge to McBride would travel through an intersection at Royal Avenue. Southbound traffic along McBride accessing the bridge would avoid the intersection by travelling under Royal Avenue. This proposal would eliminate the loop ramp from the bridge to Royal Avenue.
Walker says both proposals will destroy the quality of life for people in that area.
“The noise pollution, the air pollution, it’s going to have a serious negative impact,” he adds. “You’re going to need to be deaf, blind and love the smell of unburned hydrocarbons.”
The former real estate agent, who has lived at Eagle Crest for two years, expects property values to depreciate over time as a result of the new bridge, which currently sees approximately 80,000 cars and trucks cross daily.
“We would not keep up with the market. Who’s going to want to buy here in all honesty?” he asks, adding he’s not sure if he’ll stay or sell.
“If you’re put in a position of you have to stay because you cannot sell, or you have to sell for such a low price, where are you going to find accommodation like this? It’s unethical, it’s immoral and it’s reprehensible,” says Walker.
Other points of contention for residents include obstruction of natural light and the present views of the river, mountains and landscape. Congestion into and out of Leopold Place and Bushby Street, especially during rush hour traffic, are also worrisome, they say.
Walker says the solution is for the city to expropriate the land Eagle Crest sits on, buy out the condo owners, tear the building down and use that space for the new roadway.
“If you look at the acquisition costs of this property, it’s five per cent of the total budget of this bridge. That’s not that much money. That could be made up in a matter of months from just the tolls,” he notes. “If they do that, they can set the ramp, protect Victoria Hill (residents), leave greenspace and provide a buffer zone.”
TransLink spokesperson Jennifer Morland tells the Record expropriating the land is not something being considered at this time, as it’s “not required for the project.”
She says the transportation authority recognizes the project will have a different impact on residents living in close proximity to the bridge, and that TransLink is committed to working with them.
“It is still really early on,” Morland adds. “We’re not technically in the design phase.”
Meanwhile, a summary report of all the feedback gathered during the public consultation sessions, which ran from June 13 to July 11, will be posted on TransLink’s website later this summer.
“Leading up to the consultations, we worked really closely with municipalities to develop these connection options,” she says. “We are taking the input received to refine them.”
Mayor Jonathan Cote says the City of New Westminster is interested in hearing from affected residents like Walker. He adds he’s heard from the Victoria Hill neighbourhood.
“I think it’ll be impossible to build a new bridge without it having some impact on the area close by,” says Cote. “We do encourage those residents to make sure they’re expressing their views to also connect.”
