Dear Editor:
Re: One-lane Bailey Bridge possible, The Record, April 3.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Mayor Wayne Wright is only willing to put in a one-lane bridge where any other mayor would immediately say, "yes, let's replace it with a two-lane bridge" and thank Coquitlam for the offer of cost sharing.
Since he has, in the past, stated and demonstrated that his agenda is to divert traffic around New Westminster instead of help it get the heck off the roads in under an hour, I shouldn't be surprised.
Since he and his crew continue to put traffic calming measures on main thoroughfares like Royal Avenue, Columbia and 12th streets I should have expected this.
By the way, Mr. Wright, traffic calming is for residential streets and causes dangerous situations on our main streets as well as more pollution.
As one of many folks who uses that route to Coquitlam to work and occasionally shop, I am very disappointed.
One lane means more engines idling, Mr. Wright. More congestion, not less as you seem to think. You seem to have it exactly backwards.
I'm sure you'd like to see the Pattullo Bridge closed, too.
What he seems to forget is that when the Port Mann bridge originally opened, replacing the Pattullo as the main crossing, New West began a decline that only began to reverse when the SkyTrain was built.
We need people to come here, Mr. Wright. The first thoroughfare that fed New West is called the Fraser River, in case you've lost sight of that as well, and the traffic on that river built this city. Now, the traffic on our roads that you seek to keep choked off maintains it.
SkyTrain isn't everything.
So, how about a nice new two-lane bridge and a bike lane as well, or is that far too forward thinking?
Ross Gibson, New Westminster
