Editor:
With all the concerned media dialogue related to the South Surrey casino project, there is the other equally contentious project that has slipped under the radar – the 16 Avenue overpass.
After writing letters and getting no response, I have opted to try and get some answers through the media asking one simple question: Why do we need a Highway 1 connection at 16 Avenue?
There has been mention of rerouting the “1,000 diesel trucks a day” off 32 Avenue.
First of all, I highly doubt there are that many diesel trucks, but let’s accept the premise that there is a problem with truck traffic; where do all these trucks come from and why do they wind up on 32nd?
If you believe the rhetoric, the plan is to direct these trucks to the new overpass on 16 Avenue so they will have easier access to the border crossing. Have they looked at a map lately? Both Highway 1 and King George Boulevard connect at the roundabouts on 8 Avenue, an interchange that was upgraded for just that purpose.
The concept that I was told about at the November open house (Residents critical of freeway plans, Nov. 6) is that they want to move these nefarious 1,000 diesel trucks down to 16 Avenue, and if such is the case, pray tell me how is 16th going to handle the extra traffic?
At present, 16th is little more than a single-lane goat trail plugged up at times with all kinds of heavy truck traffic. And now, as I understand, they want to add more trucks.
I might have parts of this conceptualized project wrong. If I do, attribute it in part to the lack of detailed knowledge by those representing the province and/or City of Surrey at the open house. The common response to questions I asked was that the ‘consultants’ had the answers, but I was told that they weren’t in attendance.
I am totally in favour of replacing the overpass on 16 Avenue and upgrading the King George Boulevard/16 Avenue interchange to include four turning lanes, however the design concept calls for narrowing 16th back to two lanes east of the new overpass.
If my understanding of what they are proposing is accurate, tell me how this makes any sense in view of all the proposed additional traffic.
There are just far too many unanswered questions that demand a more thorough understanding of the project and what they are trying to accomplish with our $24 million.
B. Campbell, Surrey