Dear Editor:
Re: City concerned about safety, The Record, May 16.
The Braid Street bridge on the industrial lands of New Westminster was never intended to facilitate commuter traffic from United Boulevard in Coquitlam to Brunette/Braid in New Westminster.
A two-lane bridge would increase congestion and safety concerns in the area. In addition to the extreme congestion that now exists on Brunette, several railroad tracks near the Brunette/Braid intersection make this a particularly bad choice for a commuter corridor. Local traffic in the industrial area is well served by a safe, low-speed, alternating bridge.
I would also suggest that completely shutting down the Braid Street entrance to the industrial area would enhance traffic flow along Brunette Avenue and decrease truck traffic along Braid and Eighth streets. Entrance and egress from the industrial area could be limited to right-hand turns at Brunette. Spruce Street already provides good access to the industrial area.
One reason for the King Edward and Lougheed upgrades was to enhance traffic flow for those needing better access to and from Lougheed and the shopping centres on United Boulevard. A two-lane bridge into New Westminster would increase traffic on a route that is redundant and saves little time.
Mayor Wright and council are correct in rejecting the two-bridge Trojan horse. Frankly, I have no idea where Mayor Stewart and Minister Todd Stone are coming from on this issue. Mayor Richard Stewart was the former Liberal MLA for Coquitlam. I find it disturbing that Minister Stone is pushing Stewart’s plan. One begins to wonder how much say New Westminster is going to have regarding the safety and traffic issues posed by this little bridge or the Pattullo Bridge project looming on the horizon. In either case it would be prudent to dispense with the politics and let logic and common sense prevail.
Mike Divine,
New Westminster
