What's Happening in Richmond, BC…

Richmond is not sitting quietly when it comes to the proposed George Massey Bridge, and is looking for support from Metro Vancouver on the matter.

The province of BC has plans to build a bridge with 10 lanes that would replace the existing tunnel, which is very congested. The City of Richmond is not completely supportive of this proposal, citing concern about agricultural land and the potential that the Fraser River would dredge and increase port traffic.

Last month, the city council cast a vote and decided to request an environmental review by the federal government of the proposed plans. Such a plan would require research into the potential side effects caused by the bridge and would result in reports that may require professional printing, along with other types of presentations.

The bridge was announced in 2012, and the council still has worries that such a structure would change the dynamic of the Fraser River. Currently is services agriculture and fisheries, but the worry is that it will eventually service industry, which could negatively impact the surrounding wildlife. The port and shipping industries may have influenced the government’s decision to remove the tunnel and build the bridge as well.

Metro Vancouver has an intergovernmental and finance committee that met recently. The focus of the meeting was whether or not to send the federal Minister of Environment a letter requesting that the project be reviewed.