The Unusual transportation approaches used in Vancouver

 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/history/5-of-a-kind-unusual-modes-of-transportation-used-or-nearly-used-in-vancouver-12388220 

Vancouver is such an unusual and backwards city with its inefficient and congestive approach towards transportation infrastructure.

Getting rid of the streetcars and interurban trams was utterly foolish! Fortunately, such MADNE$$ wasn't adopted in Melbourne, SF, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia and New Orleans. 

Just because a no freeways mandate was chosen for Vancouver, the streets should have been kept wide enough for busses as well as other vehicles. 

https://movementyvr.ca/the-case-of-vancouvers-nine-missing-bus-lanes

Despite most of the Vancouver bridges being too narrow, some bridge lanes were removed, because the city wasn't interested in building parallel bike bridges. 

Since most of the bridges are so narrow, there isn't enough room for proper express bus lanes. Of course the city isn't interested in building parallel bus bridges next to the narrow bridges. 

Since Vancouver is supposed to be a major, properly functioning city in Western Canada, the city should have pressed the designers of the first 2 Skytrain lines to make sure that all of the 80 m stations could gradually be extended to 152.5 m, the same as the 500 foot long Montreal Metro stations and trains.

Unlike the first 2 Skytrain lines, the Canada Line was only designed to ultimately have 50 m stations and trains. A 2 billion dollar line to YVR could have been designed in such a way that would have allowed it to look and function like a proper big-city passenger train. 

A commuter train to the North Shore keeps taking a long time to be finalized.

https://northshoreconnects.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/BIRT-Benefits-Assessment_Final.pdf

Think small and build backwards, or not at all. 

2 out of 3 is bad, but 4 bridges?

 Apparently, 2 of the 3 Skytrain bridges were never designed to also accommodate bikes.

1 https://www.google.ca/maps/place/North+Arm+Bridge/@49.2028331,-123.1189681,1005m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x548675f84f6c0721:0xbea3ccce242f45a8!2sMarpole+Bridge!8m2!3d49.1995219!4d-123.1268811!16zL20vMGZqMjYx!3m5!1s0x548675e222b072f3:0x1f4afd8a052e9fba!8m2!3d49.2030206!4d-123.1176091!16zL20vMGc1anZj?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYwMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 

Unfortunately, all 3 Skytrain bridges weren't designed to have any express bus lanes, never mind any for a proper rapid bus network.

2 https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Middle+Arm+Bridge/@49.1956263,-123.1347899,597m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x548675e70cc6d0d1:0x203a51fa759dab7e!8m2!3d49.1957207!4d-123.1351442!16zL20vMGdna3px?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYwMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D   

In the 1980s, once it was revealed that Skytrain wouldn't be providing a 24 hour service, there wasn't a serious effort to convince the public of the importance of having a 24 hour regional express bus network. Transportation redundancy is difficult to grasp in backwards BC.

3 https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Marpole+Bridge/@49.2048651,-122.8949547,729m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m7!3m6!1s0x548675f84f6c0721:0xbea3ccce242f45a8!4b1!8m2!3d49.1995219!4d-123.1268811!16zL20vMGZqMjYx?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYwMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 

All 3 of there's transportation bridges should have had enough future space for at least a 3rd track. Upon opening, each bridge should have had 2 bus lanes that also could be for emergency vehicles. Each bridge should have had 2 bike lanes and 2 sidewalks. 

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Marpole+Bridge/@49.1996678,-123.1276435,848m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x548675f84f6c0721:0xbea3ccce242f45a8!8m2!3d49.1995219!4d-123.1268811!16zL20vMGZqMjYx?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYwMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D This was allowed to fall apart and eventually catch fire. It was never doubletracked and the interurban trams were phased out by the 1950s. Yet, most of the highways and general road system in SW BC cities are just 2 lanes each way. It was as if there was no need to have a 3rd lane for trucks and a 4th or 5th lane for buses & HOVs. 

https://stevestonheritage.ca/2024/06/21/marpole-cp-rail-bridge

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Oak+Street+Bridge

The transportation infrastructure was set up for congestion, right from the start. Having a short Skytrain & small stations might have made economic sense in its initial phase. However, there was a failure to not design it to eventually become a proper big-city size train with much longer stations.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Stubborn+BC

New Westminster business community concerned 3 months after stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge opened

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/05/25/new-westminster-businesses-concerned-3-months-after-stal%c9%99was%c9%99m-bridge/ 

BC bottleneck-chokepoint planning is out of control. This new bridge not only should have had 2 wide emergency lanes, 2 wide shoulders and especially 2 bus lanes, since the Skytrain isn't a 24 hour system. Congestive transportation planning is absurd and of no benefit to anyone. However, as a symbolic demonstration of a reluctance towards proper big-city infrastructure, its right on the mark for backwards BC. Of course the bridge wasn't designed for a future lower deck, because properly planning for the future is very difficult in backwater BC. 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/05/25/new-westminster-businesses-concerned-3-months-after-stal%C9%99was%C9%99m-bridge/

https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/about/projectoverview/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stal%CC%95%C9%99w%CC%93as%C9%99m_Bridge

Vancouver school set to open already over-capacity

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/05/24/vancouver-school-set-to-open-is-already-over-capacity/ 

Almost any big & medium size building in Vancouver should be designed with the possibility of adding more floors in the future. But that would be a little like designing bridges to eventually accommodate a couple of bus lanes, or even LRT. Thinking big and applying big-city planning in backwards BC is always difficult.

Construction means stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge closures this weekend and next

 https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/construction-means-stalwasm-bridge-closures-this-weekend-and-next/ 

Time in backwater BC doesn't matter, the old bridge just had 4 lanes and the new bridge will only have two lanes each way for quite a while. Of course no bus and HOV lanes, no wide emergency lanes and no wide shoulders. That would go against the BC bottleneck-chokepoint planning mentality. Just like an absurd 2 car train for the Canada Line and a 3 lane Lion Bridge with no bus and train tunnels to help it.

Apparently, narrow bridges and short trains are better for backwards BC.

That's the BC Mind Virus (BCMV) at work once again.

Long lost traffic lanes of Greater Vancouver

 https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/1tfsdxg/long_lost_days One of the few major streets within Vancouver to be at least 6 lanes wide. However, with curb lane parking it just becomes another 4 lane corridor in BC.

https://www.vancouverarchives.ca/wp-content/uploads/cropped-a9b22bf7-d985-4372-9650-7a51afbe5f94-2010-006.161-2-3.jpg This part of Granville used to have 6 lanes. The 1970s mall reduced it to just 2 lanes, causing an instant bus bottleneck-chokepoint. A 4 lane compromise still would have allowed for wider sidewalks. A 4 lane transit mall could have allowed for a constant passing lane when another bus has stopped. It was as if someone didn't want to have an efficient bus corridor for express buses, as well as local busses. When a local bus stops on a 2 lane street, its impossible for an express bus to pass, especially when there is a stopped bus on the other lane, also preventing any express bus to pass.

Several cities around the world still have wide streets, boulevards and avenues with 8-10 lanes. If Vancouver had allowed some 8 lane wide streets, 2 curb parking lanes would still provide 6 traffic lanes. Then, if 2 lanes were for buses, there would still be 2 lanes each way for general traffic.

The public and then the planning department (after being pressured) were firmly against having freeways within the city limits during the 1960s and 70s. However, there still should have been enough logic to allow for wider streets so that it would be easier and more efficient to have a bus lane each way. 

As of 2026, no bridge within the Vancouver city limits has 8 lanes and only two bridges have 6 lanes. One has 5 lanes and then there are four 4 lane bridges and the 3 lane Lion Bridge joke. 

All of the Vancouver bridges are so narrow that there was no provision for any future bus lanes. Plus, 2 bridges each had 2 lanes removed that could have been used for buses. Congestive transportation planning is the name of the game for backwards Vancouver. If there ever was a city that needs a series of bus bridges, it would be stubborn Vancouver. 

Even the Greater Vancouver region is lacking in having a series of bus bridges, especially since the Skytrain isn't a 24 hour system.

https://www.vancouverarchives.ca/2011/04/18/how-did-harland-bartholomews-ideas-shape-vancouver

https://archive.org/details/vancplanincgen00vanc The Bartholomew Plan published in 1928.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouver-archives/albums/72157626484421302/ 

https://globalcivic.org/harland-bartholomew/

https://www.urbanstudio.sala.ubc.ca/2010/lectures/Sept21_presentations/2_TheBasics.pdf 

https://samsullivan.ca/taking-a-closer-look-at-the-legacy-of-harland-bartholomew-and-his-plan-for-vancouver-2 , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIuAk1TIKHo

https://archive.org/details/planforcityofvan00vanc 1930

The Broadway Subway-Mount Pleasant to Broadway City Hall

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z64SisMwIuY 

Another illogical lane reduction project. Broadway was for the most part, always 6 lanes, 7, if you count the turning lane at major intersections. The train isn't a 24 hour service, so its important to always have 1 bus lane each way, especially if the train is shut down for an occasional emergency. Then there still should be 2 general lanes each way, because this isn't supposed to be a small town street or avenue. 

This, combined with so many 4 lane bridges, ensures that BC bottleneck-chokepoint planning remains firmly entrenched. 

A 5 car Vancouver train is expected to do the job of a 9 car Montreal Metro train. That's because a short Vancouver train can run a little more frequently than a 9 car Montreal Metro train, during even the most busy times of the day. Of course many proper cities have long big-city trains, because they aren't under anything like small thinking Vancouver, or a backwater BC mentality.

The standard short trains, narrow bridges & narrow streets and short buildings, are all part of holding the scale of Vancouver back. Apparently, if you can't build a wall around Vancouver, the next best thing is to continually plan and build symbolically for a provincial backwater of a city. 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Selective+Door+Operation

Granville Bridge death was preventable, advocates say

 https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/05/14/granville-bridge-death-was-preventable-say-advocates/ 

While the Granville+Bridge needs to have a higher fence like the Burrard+Bridge, there is another remaining pending danger. 

https://vancouversun.com/news/iio-investigates-womans-death-after-9-hour-incident-on-granville-street-bridge 

There is no central safety barrier to prevent head-on collisions. Whether a person becomes disoriented, or actually wants to crash into traffic from the opposite direction, there is no traffic divider.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/barrier-needed-on-vancouver-bridge-after-another-suicide-death-advocates-say/

The sidewalks could have been made a little wider in a way that there still could have been enough space for a traffic divider. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/1td85mt/iio_investigates_womans_death_after_ninehour/ 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Granville+Bridge Was 8 lanes, now 6, but with 2 bike lanes and wider sidewalks.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Burrard+Bridge Was 6 lanes, now 4, but with 2 bike lanes & already good sidewalks. 

Unfortunately, both bridges have no middle safety barrier to prevent head-on collisions, despite their recent modifications. 

The Pattullo+Bridge was too narrow to ever have a traffic divider. Fortunately, its 4 lane replacement does have a central divider. 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Knight+Street+Bridge Only 4 lanes in the middle, but has a traffic safety barrier. The KSB really needs a bus and bike bridge next to it.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Oak+Street+Bridge A traffic divider was eventually installed, but the narrow bridge was never designed to have 2 emergency lanes, or 2 wide shoulders. There especially was no consideration to have 2 bus lanes on the OSB. Since there is no 24 hour train service to the airport, there should be a parallel bus and bike bridge. 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Arthur+Laing+Bridge While it does have a traffic divider, there are no wide emergency lanes or wide shoulders. There isn't even enough space for 2 bus lanes. Thus, a bus and bike bridge really should be built next to it.

Vancouver mayor submits motion to cut back on some climate bylaws for the sake of affordability

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-mayor-city-climate-bylaws 

So, after all threes years, no money went towards a city and a regional bus bridge network. The existing bridges are too narrow to accommodate 2 express bus lanes, so there should have been parallel bus bridges built by now. 

The Canada Line wasn't designed to have at least 5 car trains, only a 2.5 car joke of a train, someday. Since 2009, only 2 car trains have been running, when there should have been 3. Despite the ridiculously short stations, there should have been modifications to have at least 3 full-size cars by now. Its as if not enough funds still haven't been put towards such a short train , since 2009.

The Cambie Bridge used to have 6 lanes when is opened in the 1980s.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2m4n1tUYVM This is heading northbound and shows the proper wide sidewalk that's on the east side of the bridge.

For some reason the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge was made too narrow. Had the sidewalk been as wide as the one on the east side of the bridge, the Vancouver planning department wouldn't have likely reduced a lane. Of course if the city would ever build a proper bike bridge beside the Cambie Bridge, then perhaps the 6th lane might be reactivated. 

A 6 lane Cambie bridge is better than a 5 lane version, or a former 6 lane Burrard Bridge reduced to 4. If both bridges had bike bridges next to them, then 2 lanes of each original 6 lane bridge could have been for busses. However, that goes against the congestive planning agenda that is backwards Vancouver. 

The late 1950s, 6 lane Iron Bridge should have had 2 wide emergency lanes and 2 wide shoulders. Then, the Iron Bridge could have been gradually modified to have 4 lanes each way, plus a bus lane each way. However, having a 10 lane bridge is what a big city would do. Unfortunately, Vancouver city planning has become so engrossed with perpetuating a small city agenda over the decades. 

When most of the regional bridges were built, there was no concept or interest in having them wide enough for bus lanes and wide emergency lanes and wide shoulders. Congestive transportation planning or stunted infrastructure, is one of the best ways in demonstrating a local reluctance to properly build big for the future. Who knows where all the money went over the decades, because it doesn't look like enough of it went towards building wider bridges and having longer trains and stations. 

Old Pattullo Bridge and its Still Narrow Replacement

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_mNfn4zjcI 

Even in the 1930s there should have been some type of a big city vision, but with NW being so small and Surrey being so out of the way, this part of BC was on the urban periphery. Apparently, there was no concept of an emergency lane on the Pattullo Bridge. Still, in addition to the 2 narrow lanes each way, there should have been 2 lane for horses and wagons. Then, by the 1950s the PB could have had 3 wide lanes each way, pulse a strong traffic divider. Instead, the narrow PB was stuck with only two lanes each way, no safety divider and only 1 narrow sidewalk.

For most of its history, NW just saw it self as a provincial backwater. The lack of a big city vision in the early 1900s meant that it never bothered to absorb what would become the Tri-Cities. For most of its history, Surrey never considered that it could eventually become the largest city in BC. Of course now that has changed.

Despite being so small, NW has become a Metro Vancouver regional transit hub, because of the New_Westminster_station. 

Scott_Road_station is a transit hub for the South_Westminster area.

Surrey and NW really should have had a proper big city size bridge.

This is how the new road configuration could have gone for what should have been a 10 lane bridge, not another 4 lane BC joke. Even if it can eventually have 6 lanes, there is no provision for a lower deck for trains and busses.

This shows how existing key roads could have linked into a 10 lane bridge, all without having to widen the surrounding roads. Thus, no need for any major land expropriation.

2 lanes from Royal Avenue onto the new bridge and 2 lanes from the bridge onto Royal Avenue in New+Westminster.   

One lane onto and one lane off linking the bridge to the South_Fraser_Perimeter_Road in Surrey.

2 lanes onto McBride boulevard and 2 lanes onto the bridge from McBride in New+Westminster.  

From Columbia_Street_in New_Westminster, 1 lane onto the bridge, as well as 1 lane off the bridge. 

2 lanes from King_George_Boulevard onto the new bridge and 2 lanes from the bridge onto KGB in Surrey. 

2 lanes from Scott Road onto the new bridge and 2 lanes from the bridge onto Scott_Rd in Surrey.  

Things weren't properly explained to the public as to how important a wide big city bridge could have been possible and without having to widen the roads connecting to it.

Unfortunately, all of this is being funneled into just 2 lanes each way. Its as if someone symbolically wanted the new bridge to open without any bus and HOV lanes. That's how BC bottleneck and chokepoint planning works. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Vancouver_Regional_District  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Valley

Some day, the BC Lower_Mainland should be planned and developed to function more like a proper big urban area. 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Pattullo+Bridge+replacement

Temporary stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge closure will impact all traffic this weekend for construction

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bridge-temporary-closure-surrey-new-westminster 

Lets open a bridge without 2 wide emergency lanes or 2 wide shoulders. Especially make sure that it didn't open with enough space for 2 bus lanes and 2 HOV lanes. Of course don't design the Bridge to have a potential lower deck for trucks and trains. Its an instant classic BC bottleneck chokepoint! 

https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/about/projectoverview Just like the SkyBridge, apparently, there was no need to open it with 2 bus lanes, despite the train not running 24/7.

Unfortunately, the Bridges_over_the_Fraser_River in the BC Lower_Mainland just weren't designed to have proper bus lanes. Its so strange that the narrow SkyBridge was_for_SkyTrain only. 

Just like the new tunnel between Richmond and delta, there is no provision for 2 train tracks. While there are 2 bus lanes, there won't be any exclusive HOV lanes. Eventually, there will have to be a proper train and rapid bus bridge or another tunnel beside it. 

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca/project-overview-frt "The Fraser River Tunnel Project includes a new, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel that will replace the existing George Massey Tunnel on Highway 99. The new tunnel will have three vehicle lanes and a dedicated transit lane in each direction, with a separated active transportation corridor for cyclists and pedestrians." 

Given that this is supposed to be a major port region, a train and rapid bus crossing needs to eventually be there. A train connecting YVR to the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal and 2 rapid bus lanes. Then the main tunnel could still provide 3 general lanes each way, plus a HOV lane each way. https://www.infrastructurebc.com/project/fraser-river-tunnel-project/  

Unfortunately, proper big city size infrastructure is a difficult thing to achieve in backwards BC. Since the decision was made to not have a rail component in the new highway99tunnel, the middle 2 bike lanes should have been wide enough to eventually become 2 rapid bus lanes. Then a new bridge or parallel tunnel could have a YVR to ferry terminal train, plus 2 truck lanes, 2 bike lanes an 2 sidewalks. 

This is what a proper big regional port crossing should be like, but for backwater BC, its a different set of priorities. 

Ironworkers Memorial Bridge is Metro Vancouver's most congested crossing

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/ironworkers-memorial-metro-vancouver-bridge-traffic-volumes 

Had the-bridge been designed with 2 wide emergency lanes and 2 wide shoulders, things could have been gradually modified and improved. The Iron Bridge could have become an 8 lane crossing for general traffic, plus having 2 express bus or rapid bus lanes. 

https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/ironworkers-bridge-the-most-congested-in-metro-vancouver-report-finds-12148809

Unlike the Queensboro_Bridge in NYC, or the Benjamin_Franklin_Bridge and the Sydney_Harbour_Bridge, this bridge wasn't designed with future rail rapid transit in mind.  

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Ironworkers+Memorial+Bridge

TransLink's R2 RapidBus to be extended from North Shore to Metrotown this September

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/r2-marine-willingdon-rapidbus-metrotown-bus-route-translink  

http://www.transitdb.ca/route/R2

A Boundary+Road Bridge over the inlet could have had a couple of Rapid Bus lanes and relieved some of the traffic on the inadequate Iron+Bridge. Had The+Iron+Bridge been originally designed to have 2 wide shoulders and 2 wide emergency lanes, then it could have been gradually adapted to accommodate 4 general lanes each way and 1 Rapid Bus lane each way. Instead, busses, trucks, cars and motorcycles are all squeezed into 3 lanes each way.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=R2+RapidBus

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Boundary+Road+Corridor

World Expo 88 in Brisbane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Expo_88 This city was able to do so much after their expo, because they didn't have the same restrictions imposed upon them like what Vancouver has.

 https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/1988-brisbane 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane#Tourism_and_recreation 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane#Transport 

It would be disastrous if Brisbane took the Vancouver approach to things.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busways_in_Brisbane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Schonell_Bridge Unfortunatly, such a nice bus and bike doesn't exist in backwards Vancouver. The whole region could greatly benefit from a proper bus and bike network. Most of the bridges in Greater Vancouver are so narrow, there isn't enough room for separate bus lanes. Most of the sidewalks and bike lanes are also too narrow.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translink_(Queensland) 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridges_over_the_Brisbane_River#Major_bridges 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Brisbane#Tallest_buildings

Vancouverites have some of the longest commutes in Canada

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-longest-commute-canada 

With most of the regional bridges being too narrow, there isn't enough space for proper express bus+lanes or BRT lanes. Plus, the first 2 Skytrain lines only have the potential to accommodate 5 car trains. The Canada (Embarrassment) Line wasn't designed to eventually have 5 car trains, only 2.5 car trains. Narrow bridges and short trains are all part of the symbolic reluctance towards having proper big city size infrastructure.

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=bus+and+bike+bridge

Major upgrades to busy Queensborough Bridge will close lanes until 2027

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-lane-closures-new-westminster-richmond 

When the Queensborough_Bridge opened in 1960, there wasn't any serious consideration for future capacity. The QB should have had 2 wide shoulders and 2 wide emergency lanes. Then, by the 1980s 2 bus lanes could have been opened. Then, by around 2000 the QB could have had 3 lanes each way, plus 1 bus lane each way.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/04/02/construction-to-close-queensborough-bridge-lanes-overnight-until-2027

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/other-transportation-projects/queensboroughbridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensborough_Bridge Unfortunatly in 2026, the QB remains as a 4 lane funnel. Just 2 lanes each way as its another classic BC bottleneck-chokepoint, by design. There is enough space east of the bridge for a new northbound bridge to be built. 

New_Westminster has always been a small city, because it never absorbed what would become the Tri-Cities. Thus, a narrow QB fits in with such a little provincial backwater. However, as part of the BC Lower_Mainland its part of a region with over 3 million people. This puts NW in the position of being a regional hub city. 

https://604now.com/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-richmond-new-westminster-2026-2027/

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/queensborough-bridge-upgrades-new-westminster-richmond

https://www.patrickjohnstone.ca/2013/07/alas-queensborough-bridge-works.html

http://archives.newwestcity.ca/permalink/24422 , http://archives.newwestcity.ca/permalink/99415/  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensborough,_New_Westminster , https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/rte/122554-QB.PDF

Bike+bridges aren't a problem in many Australian cities and around the world. However, as usual, its more difficult to get such things done in backwards BC.

https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Q2Q_Bridge_Brochure_2015_02_02.pdf  

https://www.patrickjohnstone.ca/2013/07/connecting-qb-to-quay.html There should have been a proper bike and foot bridge between Queensborough and downtown NW, decades ago. 

https://www.newwestcity.ca/planning-building-and-development/projects-on-the-go/articles/3475.php

 https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Queensborough+Bridge

The Pattullo Bridge replacement, so far

 https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/construction/bridge-opening/ 

There are still months of finishing touches.

https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/construction/current-works/ 

Over the course of the year, many more people will start to realize that despite there being adequate bike lanes, there are no bus lanes, no wide shoulders and especially no emergency lanes. Its currently still too narrow for all of that.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SurreyBC/comments/1omufv6/the_new_pattullo_bridge_will_gradually_open_to/  

In fact, the bridge was deliberately designed to be so narrow that there is only enough future deck space for either 2 bus lanes or 2 emergency lanes, but not both. For now, its just another 4 lane BC funnel.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Westminster,+BC 

No lower deck for a potential truck connection between Surrey and Front Street and especially, no lower deck for a future LRT crossing.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/pattullo-bridge-renamed-stalwasm-set-to-open-soon-11595501

It seems that whenever its possible, a 4 lane BC bottleneck-chokepoint is all that's necessary.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SurreyBC/comments/1rb4nmd/bus_connect_surrey_and_coquitlam/ 

It really would be a good idea to eventually have a couple of bus lanes on that bridge, especially since the Skytrain doesn't run 24 hours a day.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/New+Westminster,+BC/@49.2037496,-122.8791442,674m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x5485d8753ddb5097:0xeca8e918f64dfeee!8m2!3d49.2057179!4d-122.910956!16zL20vMDF2cXEx!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMzMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 

Its still amazing how the SkyBridge (1990) was never built with 2 bus lanes, 2 bike lanes and 2 sidewalks. Such is the narrowminded planning methodology that is backwards BC.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyBridge_(TransLink)#Details   

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Pattullo+Bridge+replacement 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=Queensborough+Bridge 

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=SkyBridge

List of crossings of the Fraser River on the South Arm

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Fraser_River#South_Arm  

The Alex_Fraser_Bridge should have opened with 8 lanes with enough width to eventually have 10 lanes. Plus, 2 wide bike lanes and 2 footpaths. A wide emergency lane or wide shoulder that could have eventually become 2 bus lanes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Fraser_Bridge So, instead of an ultimate design of 10 lanes with 2 emergency lanes and a provision for a lower deck, everything was squeezed into only 2 lanes each way. There wasn't even enough planning logic to have a wide shoulder or wide emergency lane on each side in the first phase of construction. It was an instant classic 4 lane BC bottleneck-chokepoint. 

Fortunately, there was at least a provision for it to eventually accommodate 6 lanes and ultimately, a 7th lane was squeezed in. Its still a far cry from being 12 lanes wide or having a lower deck. 

The British_Columbia_Highway_91 should have been properly been built as an effective bypass to the joke that is the 4 lane George_Massey_Tunnel chokepoint. The H-91 and the Alex_Fraser_Bridge should have had 4 lanes each way, plus a bus lane each way. Especially, since there is no train along that corridor and there still isn't enough government interest to have a train next to the George_Massey_Tunnel-Replacement. While the new tunnel will have a bus lane each way, there is no provision for a train tunnel or bridge. This isn't just another case of BC planning shortsightedness, its indicative of the BC Mind Virus. 

The BCMV isn't supposed to be real, but something like it always seems to show up whenever there is a chance to build some proper big city size infrastructure.

George Massey Tunnel Replacement

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Massey_Tunnel#Replacement 3 lanes each way and a bus lane each way.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/george-massey-tunnel-new-replacement-potential-cost-increase

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/massey-tunnel-design-team-chosen-1.7273022# 

https://www.highway99tunnel.ca Of course the new tunnel is missing the crucial train section.

While a 10 lane bridge would have allowed a provision for a train to eventually run between Richmond and Delta, such a train would go against the congestive planning mentality that is BC. 

Of course a train tunnel or bridge will have to eventually link Richmond and Delta, someday. Despite an opportunity to improve regional rail transportation, the BC government just doesn't see it as important enough of a project yet.