Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson is calling on the outgoing NDP government to stop spending on the project to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel while his incoming B.C. Conservative government looks at building a bridge instead.
Doerkson pledged during the election campaign to scrap the Fraser River Tunnel Project and build a bridge carrying Highway 99 between Richmond and Delta. He estimated the switch would save $2.5 billion, but he has not provided details comparing the costs of the two projects.
His government won’t be officially sworn in until Nov. 20., and preparation work at the site for the tunnel project has been ongoing.
In a statement Thursday, Doerkson asked the outgoing government to ensure during the transition period that only work to support the bridge placement option for the crossing continues.
He said his government plans to conduct a review of the $8.5 billion project and its alternatives.
“We’re not looking to stop work that will be needed either way and we will respect existing contracts. What we want to avoid is spending more taxpayers’ money on work that moves only the tunnel option forward,” said Doerkson.
A report from June said a total of $580.7 million had been spent on the tunnel project so far.
Union group BC Building Trades raised concerns about the Conservative plan last month, saying crews have been at the site since January. It said cancelling the project would immediately put 200 tradespeople out of work and put another 1,700 construction jobs at risk.
Doerkson told reporters on Thursday he remains committed to pivoting away from the tunnel project.
The federal government has said it will provide $3 billion for the project, whether the crossing is a bridge or another tunnel.
“This is a strange attempt by Lorne Doerkson to pin the costs of this reckless promise on anyone but himself,” said former Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth in a statement. “He knew when he promised to cancel this tunnel that construction was already well underway and hundreds of millions of dollars had been spent.”
He noted that during transition periods all government work is administered by the non-partisan civil service, not elected officials.
“I’m confident that independent public servants are acting appropriately, including taking their direction from the incoming government,” he said.
