Vancouver's Leader in Transition toward Strong, Resilient, Complete Communities

NB Gateway freeway expansion cancelled despite signed contract

By Eric Doherty, March 21, 2011

It seems that “Gateway” is a popular name for unpopular freeway projects. Like in the Lower Mainland of B.C., the provincial government in New Brunswick had been trying to push through an expensive freeway expansion scheme called Gateway over the objections of local residents.

The similarities between the two Gateway schemes is uncanny. There was even a bog that was threatened by Gateway on the outskirts of Saint John, New Brunswick—Renforth Bog. In the Lower Mainland it is Burns Bog in Delta that is threatened by the Gateway freeway scheme.

The difference is that the people of Saint John who opposed plans to widen the Mackay Highway to six freeway lanes have won already. On March 18, the government of New Brunswick sent out a media release titled “Mackay Highway project amended”. The release states: “After serious consideration, our government has determined that the Mackay Highway expansion project will be amended. It is part of this government’s mandate to review all capital projects to reduce costs. As a result of this review, we have concluded that the proposed widening of the Mackay Highway is not necessary at this time.”

See the full text with links, and leave a comment, at
http://www.straight.com/article-382624/vancouver/eric-doherty-new-b...

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Comment by Randy Chatterjee on March 23, 2011 at 1:05pm: There is hope, especially for stopping the "perimeter" roads, like the SFPR, that are IMHO the most blatantly damaging elements of the Gateway program.

New roads for transporting container traffic--that is better handled on electrified rail lines or short haul barges and that destroys river foreshore and vital bog ecosystems--can never be supported as we transition away from the use of oil and seek to protect salmon runs and the diverse habitat of millions of species--including humans--that our rivers create.

With inflation on the rise in China, Japan suffering from grievous natural and man-made disasters, the impending collapse of the sovereign debt bubble, and oil prices on the rise, it only makes sense to stop where we are and reassess.

Building roads to nowhere is an all-too-common human ambition, but easily stopped when recognized for the horrid folly that it represents. More than ever, with climate change and Peak Oil on the horizon, these new highways--whether truly for freight or actually for residential sprawl development--cannot be allowed to be built.

These roads, and the Metro Regional Growth Strategy that is geared to feed them, can and will be stopped. We have no other choice.

Let us follow New Brunswick's example.