Eagles drop three in a row page 17
Surrey Civic Treasures page 3
Tuesday October 8, 2013
Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
Do you feel the need for speed? B.C. government to review highway speed limits; wants public input by Jeff Nagel TRANSPORTATION MINISTER Todd Stone wants B.C. residents to weigh in on a potential increase in highway speed limits now under consideration. Stone announced the formal review of speed limits Friday in Kamloops, although he had previously indicated it was coming and technical work is already underway. The Coquihalla Highway already has a speed limit of 110 km/h, but traffic there does an average speed of 118 km/h, while drivers routinely exceed the posted limit of 90 or 100 km/h on many other provincial highways. “There’s no question the Coquihalla is a prime candidate for an adjustment in the speed limit,” Stone said, also listing sections of Highway 1 in the Lower Mainland and around Kamloops as well as the Cariboo Connector towards Prince George. It’s been a decade since B.C. last reviewed speed limits. Todd Stone Stone said any increases would involve mainly rural provincial highways between communities, not highways in urban areas of the Lower Mainland, although which specific corridors to adjust will be subject to public input.
“I am not interested in making any changes that are going to compromise the safety of motorists.”
BOAZ JOSEPH / THE LEADER
See FORUMS / Page 4
The government has launched a formal review of highway speeds, including along Highway 1.
Cost of Pattullo fix doubles TransLink sets aside $300M to fix bridge – up from $150M by Jeff Nagel TRANSLINK IS earmarking nearly $300 million to rehabilitate the aging Pattullo Bridge over the next three years even though the structure could be torn down soon after the work is done. But officials at the regional transportation authority insist they will try not to spend the money unnecessarily and
are hopeful the bulk of the outlay can be averted if a decision on replacing the Pattullo with a new bridge can be made soon enough. The projected amount to be spent repairing the bridge has doubled from a previous estimate of $150 million to $299 million after work on the span this summer gave TransLink a better idea of what is needed. Executive Vice-President of Policy
and Strategic Planning Bob Paddon said the rehab work could begin as soon as 2015 and he hopes a decision on the Pattullo’s replacement will be made in 2014. But even a quick decision on replacement won’t avert the need to expend a significant amount fixing the old bridge, Paddon said, because those repairs will be necessary before a new bridge opens. See PATTULLO / Page 4
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The Pattullo Bridge needs repairs, even though it may be replaced with a new span.
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