S TANDARD TERRACE
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VOL. 26 NO. 10
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
City looks for second overpass THE CLOSURE of the Frank St. level rail crossing last week gives the city leverage to insist that a second overpass be built, says mayor Dave Pernarowski. Transport Canada ordered CN to block the crossing to vehicle traffic after a CN train went into an emergency stop June 4 to avoid hitting a logging truck that had been blocking the tracks.
The problem is that there is not enough room between the tracks and the intersection of Frank St. with Hwy16 for lengthy vehicles to safely wait until they can proceed on to the highway. The result is that the back portions of lengthy vehicles then block the tracks. CN crews followed the CN order by placing concrete barriers
blocking vehicle traffic the afternoon of June 11. The move angered residents and, in particular, Keith Ave. industrial and other businesses who used the Frank St. crossing. Even without the closure, which has forced traffic to the Kenney St. level street crossing and the Sande Overpass, there had been calls for a second overpass.
That's because rail traffic has been growing with the development of port facilities of Prince Rupert, resulting in long waits at level crossings for trains to clear the intersections. “I think now we can address the issues of traffic and improvements concerning a grade separation as part of a long-term plan,” said Pernarowski last week.
Although not directly critical of the closure, the mayor did say there is increasing pressure now on Kenney and on the Sande Overpass. “I'm not sure if this is improving safety,” said Pernarowski of the closure. “It can be just as dangerous on Kenney,” he said of traffic conditions on that crossing.
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STAFF PHOTO
■ Men at work BANDSTRA TRANSPORTATION drivers stand in front of part of a fleet of trucks loaded with mechanical lifts destined for the Red Chris copper and gold mine now under construction up Hwy37 North. The lifts were provided by United Rentals for the companies working on the Imperial Metals project. Bandstra sent 15 trucks to the mine location on June 11 and June 12. The mine is scheduled to open late next spring and will use power from BC Hydro’s Northwest Transmission Line which is also under construction and scheduled to be finished late next spring.
Little Ave. demolitions trudge forward By JOSH MASSEY DEMOLITION OF one of three Little Ave. buildings declared unsafe by the city began over the weekend. George Vogel, acting as the agent for his mother's estate, the owner of the Second World Warera barracks building at 4450 Little Ave., had been given an extension until May 24 following an impassioned presentation to city council in January. Accompanying the demolition work was a city move to turn the water off June 17 and, according
to a city report, “sanitary service laterals will be capped within a week.” City official David Block said Vogel has applied for a demolition permit. That's in conjunction with a deal Vogel and local roofing contractor – and former BC Conservative Party candidate – Mike Brousseau have to purchase the property. “I'm disassembling it, not demolishing it,” Brousseau said last week of his plans. He said everything from the roof materials to the window frames can be salvaged for re-use.
Meanwhile, right next door at 4440 Little Ave., owner Lloyd Wittkowski, with the assistance of Brousseau who also wants to buy the property, has almost finished demolishing a similar structure to that on the Vogel property. Block, the city's development services director, said a letter was sent to Wittkowski telling him to speed up the work. Demolition was supposed to be finished April 20 and all that remains now are a few building fragments. Block said work appears to have slowed down on the third building ordered demolished which is
owned by Wayne Kirby at 4520 Little Ave. One portion of the structure has been removed but another, which had been a rental accommodation, still stands. That building once served as a hospital operated by Red Cross. Both Vogel and Kerby previously have told council that the demolition orders caused them significant financial strain. Kerby has until July 19 to complete the teardown. The city said in the past that if the owners do not comply with demolition orders the city will do the
work and send the owners the bills. “We have to make the city happy first,” Mike Brousseau said of his demolition work. Once Brousseau has title to the properties he wants, he says he'll follow through on a plan to construct accommodation for people who need to learn job skills. That plan was part of his campaign platform in May's provincial election. Brousseau is calling his plan TAG, the Terrace Association of Do-gooders. This is a change from the plan’s first name, the Terrace Assembly of Gatherers.
Happy 50th
One year later
Skate jam
Air cadets celebrate milestone at their annual review \COMMUNITY A28
Kalum Quarry nears first year in full swing operation \NEWS A10
Terrace skateboarders are set for Go Skateboarding day this Friday \SPORTS A32