Fixing the traffic problem in North Vancouver was the number 1 reason why I ran for provincial office in 2009.
Back then, it was mostly those of us who live east of the Seymour River who were consistently affected by accidents on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge or stalls down the Cut.
As someone who lives east of Seymour, but commutes daily to my office in Lynn Valley, I’m stuck in it every day.
We simply can’t get in or out of the area without getting tied up with bridge or Cut traffic.
Over the last few years, while countless studies and consultations have occurred, traffic in both directions has increased. While the highway on the south end of the bridge has substantially improved, the traffic on the north end has become increasingly worse – often with no accident or stall in sight.
I have worked for many years with our local school boards, municipal council, federal governments, and our provincial transportation ministers on this congestion issue.
I worked with three levels of government last year to secure $150 million for the Lower Lynn Interchanges project. The B.C. Liberals contributed $56.7 million, while the federal government and the District of North Vancouver contributed $46.6 million and $46.7 million, respectively.
Construction has begun on the first phase, the Mountain Highway Interchange. You can see the clearing of the land around the old Keith Lynn school, which will be the site of the newly constructed interchange.
At a public open meeting earlier this year, hosted by the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, we took in feedback from the community. I also received feedback in my constituency office and at the doorsteps. Since those meetings, the ministry has gone back to the drawing board and is looking at their plans to better meet the needs of local commuters.
Some of the most prominent feedback from constituents calls for an expansion of the Lynn Creek bridge, which would allow for east to west travel in North Vancouver without getting stuck in Highway 1 traffic, and for direct southbound access to the highway from Mountain Highway in Lynn Valley. It is our hope that in the coming months the best possible solution will be agreed upon.
My thanks go out to our two new local MPs, our District mayor and council, the North Vancouver Board of Education, and our three other North Shore MLAs, for our collective co-operation throughout this project to bring it to fruition.
I can honestly say I can finally see the end of the tunnel.
