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Post by Neil on Mar 28, 2006 21:56:22 GMT -8
Do you really want to be stuck in Active Pass on a Sunday afternoon behind a line of seniors all going five knots?
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Post by Guest on Mar 28, 2006 22:19:47 GMT -8
Do you really want to be stuck in Active Pass on a Sunday afternoon behind a line of seniors all going five knots? You would be better coming ashore on Mayne Island and getting onto Waugh Road to Georgina Point Road and putting back into the water at Village Bay instead of taking a Amphibian through the Pass.  |
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Post by Quinsam Teen on Mar 28, 2006 22:24:36 GMT -8
You know, why don't we just start phasing in amphibious vehicles for everyone, so that if you live in Vancouver and want to go to Victoria, you can just drive across the Strait without need for a ferry?  (kidding) You mean like a Dukw? A landing craft, it looks like a bus and it floats in water.   |
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Post by Coastal Skier on Mar 29, 2006 0:06:37 GMT -8
That has got to be the best thing I've ever seen. I want one of those!
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Post by Curtis on Mar 29, 2006 8:19:00 GMT -8
Here's one that tours Halifax Harbour. I went on it in 2001 It tours lots of places in the Harbour and on land. It drives you around places like the Halifax Citadel. It really makes a splash while entering the water. It was fun. The funny thing is they make you say "Ribbit Ribbit!" every once and awhile Here's the Hopper On Land  In the Harbour  |
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Post by Guest on Mar 31, 2006 22:49:49 GMT -8
The 'Conservative' Party of BC is actually led by a man named Campbell, Gordon Campbell to be precise. They pretend to be Liberals.
Even if a bridge was feasible and was built, ferries would not be eliminated. No matter where a bridge was located it would be too far north or south for much of the population of VI. If a bridge from Vancouver to say the Ladysmith/Duncan area was built we might still have ferries connecting the Victoria/Saanich Peninsula area to the mainland and the USA, and further up island as well.
A fixed crossing may happen sometime in the distant future (50 years?). But for now it remains as a ridiculous notion.
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Post by Quinsam Teen on Apr 1, 2006 7:51:53 GMT -8
That has got to be the best thing I've ever seen. I want one of those! Indeed, the pictures of the one I posted (Titania) is in London Waterloo |
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Post by Guest on Apr 9, 2006 14:19:20 GMT -8
The idea of building a bridge over from the mainland to the island is completely ridculous! The citizens would be crazy on the islands, the mainland; and the workers would be espically mad! And the idea of the B.C. Conservatives getting in the next 40,000 years is slim! By that time the world will be ruled by a guy that is called a Hegemony because the world is under attack by aliens and and will fly to the islands and be so scared about the aliens wiping us out from the face of the Earth will train children in orions belt! This might not happen but if it doesn't the B.C. Conservative party still won't be in pwer!
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 9, 2006 15:05:28 GMT -8
I'm sure this will get some reaction within the forum... Provincial Conservative wants to build bridge between Vancouver and the Island
...thousand on Vancouver Island. [/b] Folks: 'GET USED TO IT' ...to say the least I knew it. ...was actually just thinking about that inevitable reality. |
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Post by Guest on Apr 12, 2006 13:48:04 GMT -8
A tunnel makes more sense if there was an option.
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 12, 2006 16:15:50 GMT -8
I'm sure this will get some reaction within the forum... Provincial Conservative wants to build bridge between Vancouver and the Island
...thousand on Vancouver Island. [/b] Folks: 'GET USED TO IT' ...to say the least I knew it. ...was actually just thinking about that inevitable reality. [/quote] ...Correction; I should have added:"...inevitable reality... ...unless, of course, you stand up for change  " --== @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ==--
[glow=blue,1,900]Build it, and they [/i]will[/b] come[/glow][/size][/u] |
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Post by BrianWilliams on Apr 14, 2006 0:02:40 GMT -8
*sigh*
Ridiculous idea, and a financial disaster -- but USA built the Chesapeake bridge-causeway-tunnel highway almost 40 years ago.
Their excuse? "National Security". The Hampton Roads/Newport News/Norfolk complex of naval bases are isolated from land by the James and Charles River estuaries.
The massive project was unsupportable for mere civilian use, but the Pentagon blew a couple of billion dollars of hardworking taxpayers' money to fight Communism on the Atlantic Coast.
We had the privilege to drive Highway 13 from Chincoteague to Virginia Beach a few years ago. Li'l two lane 13 suddenly widens into a freeway as it crosses 18 miles of ocean, then shrinks back to a secondary road on the southern shore.
It is wonderfully engineered, but a useless boondoggle.
If we choose to be equally stupid, we can build a series of magnificent bridges. The plan was first proposed in 1866: build a railway down Bute Inlet, then hop the Discovery Islands on tall steel bridges to the wealth of Vancouver Island.
The only wealth created, as we know, was Dunsmuir's charter of the E&N, whereby he got 20% of Vancouver Island's land while waiting for Canada to connect him to the National Railway. Hmm - it didn't happen, but he kept the land anyway.
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Post by Dane on Apr 14, 2006 0:55:21 GMT -8
They still have a lot of mining titles, as you said, so I'm really just repeating. My house in Qualicum Beach has an outstanding E&N Claim that can be, technically, exersized if they find some sort of minerals and want to excatvate the land.
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Post by Guest on Dec 3, 2006 16:01:30 GMT -8
What they should do is build a road from Powell River (Hwy 101) to Squamish (Hwy 99) and use the Westview to Little River run as a fourth connection to the island. It would probably put that route back in the black. There already is a dirt / 4x4 road that connects Powell River to Hwy 99. It would be a boon to Industry in the North Island (Logging, Fishing, medium manufacturing) to be able to connect to the mainland with out making the drive to Nanaimo. The ferry would be running full steam instead of two round trips daily. The island is growing. The population is now close to 890,000. It will be a million by 2012. There is also pride in infrastructure. There was a time where we had a pioneering spirit where we built roads and bridges out of necessity and pride. We have all become a bunch of NIMBY wimps where the right wing complains about cost and the left wing complains about environmental concerns. Lets build stuff again.
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Post by MileagePhoto on Dec 3, 2006 17:38:53 GMT -8
A few things, in response to Lorenzobc:
1) What the 'hell is a NIMBY?
2) A very interesting point, however money is an issue. If we did build this so-called "convenient" bridge across Georgia Strait it would likely backrupt our government.
3) Over the summer months, on Little River-Powell River the 4 round-trips can be full, in fact last summer when I was staying in Little River like I do every year, I saw on my daily bike trip to the ferry that there was a sailing wait to get to Powell River, and the sailings were overloaded (>coughFilburgFestivalcough<).
4) I like the idea of a road along the north side of Howe Sound; perhaps a toll highway, slightly less then the ferry.
5) There is a problem between Powell River and Gibsons, and it is called the Queen of Tsawwassen. This sails about 6 or 7 times a day across Jervis Inlet, and it does perform well, but it leaves people behind at both terminals as is.
6) There would have to be some serious upgrades to Rte 101.
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Post by Flugel Horn on Dec 3, 2006 17:54:24 GMT -8
Read the post again, Mainlander.
He's not advocating a bridge....he's suggesting an overland route from Powell River to Squamish.
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NIMBY: People that support an idea, but reject it if it's located too close to their home. ie. A new sewage treatment plant, which is needed for my city. I think it's a grand idea. But perhaps I'd not be happy if it were too close to my front yard, but definitely not in my back yard. Put the much-needed sewage plant closer to someone else's back yard.
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Post by MileagePhoto on Dec 3, 2006 18:56:46 GMT -8
LOL well, if you put it that way these NIMBY people are everywhere. In fact, there's one on this board right now, and his name is politically incorrect.
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Well, I wasn't implying that he was suggesting a bridge, in case it did seem that way, I meant for the bridge as in response to the name of the topic.
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Post by Doug on Dec 3, 2006 19:06:27 GMT -8
What they should do is build a road from Powell River (Hwy 101) to Squamish (Hwy 99) and use the Westview to Little River run as a fourth connection to the island. It would probably put that route back in the black. There already is a dirt / 4x4 road that connects Powell River to Hwy 99. It would be a boon to Industry in the North Island (Logging, Fishing, medium manufacturing) to be able to connect to the mainland with out making the drive to Nanaimo. The ferry would be running full steam instead of two round trips daily. The island is growing. The population is now close to 890,000. It will be a million by 2012. There is also pride in infrastructure. There was a time where we had a pioneering spirit where we built roads and bridges out of necessity and pride. We have all become a bunch of NIMBY wimps where the right wing complains about cost and the left wing complains about environmental concerns. Lets build stuff again. I don't believe there is a gravel road between Powell River and Highway 99. If there was, it would probably be paved by now. However, there is a road running up to Port Mellon about halfway up the Howe Sound from Gibsons...perhaps there is a gravel road running to Squamish? |
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 3, 2006 19:53:10 GMT -8
There's a road from Langdale to Port Melon. There is no road beyond Port Melon, to my knowledge. There has been talk of building a highway from here to Powell River for a while now, as Powell River is basically just on the other side of the Mountains. As far as I know, there is no clear and easy to use dirt road from here to Powell River. Alot of it is nice logging roads, and alot of it was a gravel road, but now is thick bushes. As far as direct access to Hwy 99, it's kind of far from it. The dirt roads start in an area called the Cheakamus Valley. The majority of it is Native land. The road that runs up the valley turns to dirt after driving for about half an hour out of town, going about 50 km/h. The road is quite beaten up, and the people out there like being away from the "City Life". So, most of the residents out there would then turn into, well, NIMBY's, if they started upgrading the road through there, to prepare it for the Highway traffic. I would support this highway, and it may one day just be done. Just not for a while from now. Well, not until the Olympics have come and gone anyway, when the Sea to Sky is complete.
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Post by DENelson83 on Jun 27, 2008 22:04:19 GMT -8
I just heard on CHEK News that the rising costs of ferry fares are bringing the bridge talk back up again, but just a bridge from Nanaimo to Gabriola Island this time.
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Post by Mill Bay on Jun 27, 2008 22:15:50 GMT -8
I just heard on CHEK News that the rising costs of ferry fares are bringing the bridge talk back up again, but just a bridge from Nanaimo to Gabriola Island this time. That's not surprising, but it's not likely to happen. The traffic to Gabriola probably doesn't really justify the capital investment. For the logistics of something like this, there's also no sense in going partway... if they were to build a bridge, it might as well be a complete strait crossing, or nothing. |
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Post by Taxman on Jun 28, 2008 8:08:48 GMT -8
Um, the distance to gabriola is a fraction of the distance to the mainland from the island, while it would be one of the longer bridges in canada, it would be nowhere near the challenge of a cross-strait bridge, which would be one of the worlds longest, and THE longest in Canada. I have not seen the charts for the area, or the actual route proposed, but there would be shorter spans required, and the Gabriola Bridge could use more traditional bridge building techniques.
I agree that at this time the population center isn't there, but if Nanaimo keeps growing, I think a bridge to Gabriola is more likely than a cross strait bridge
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Post by Nucksrule on Jun 28, 2008 9:59:42 GMT -8
Fuel prices reopen Island bridge debate
BC Ferries offers to survey Gabriola Island residents
Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, June 28, 2008
VICTORIA -- Rising fuel prices have been delivering financial pain throughout North America, but on Friday they unexpectedly helped reopen a rift only a coastal British Columbian could truly understand.
Responding to a request from a ferry user, BC Ferries president and CEO David Hahn offered to pay up to $5,000 to survey residents of Gabriola Island on whether they would want to see their energy-reliant ferry service replaced by a fixed-link toll bridge to Nanaimo.
"Over a 50-year period of time, it's conceivable a toll bridge would be a lot cheaper," said Hahn, noting he realized the political sensitivities such a suggestion is sure to inflame. "We're not promoting the bridge. We're not advocating one thing or another," he quickly added.
"We've just been asked by certain members of the community, would we be willing to find out what the community thinks?"
Hahn said he was considering a survey of only Gabriola residents because a report done about 10 years ago showed it to be the Gulf Island best suited for a bridge. The ferry run, a distance of 6.8 kilometres, takes about 20 minute.
He reopened the bridge debate as he prepares to apply to the B.C. Ferry Commission next week for a significant fuel surcharge -- nine per cent on major routes, and as much as 18 per cent on minor routes -- to take effect as early as August.
A return ferry trip between Gabriola and Vancouver Island for one person and a vehicle costs $28.80. A surcharge of 18 per cent will bring that to $33.98.
Bridges linking B.C. islands have been proposed in the past, including one connecting Vancouver Island with the B.C. mainland.
Hahn said the 10-year-old report said a Gabriola Island bridge would cost about $50 million, but that would likely be higher now because of rising construction and material costs.
Hahn said he won't even survey Gabriola unless the Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee thinks it's a good idea, and that he won't start developing a cost estimate until the community comes out in favour of a bridge.
The very suggestion of a bridge is a reflection of the serious impact fuel prices are having on BC Ferries' bottom line.
"This last round of fuel surcharges causes everybody to look in the mirror and think out loud," he said.
Andre Lemieux, chairman of the Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee, bristled at the mention of reopening the bridge debate.
"The idea of a bridge has been discussed for about 50 years," he said Friday, adding he had only just received the offer for a community survey from BC Ferries that morning.
"It's very political and the FAC doesn't want to get involved in making a decision on the bridge, or even discuss the subject," he added.
When asked why the issue is so sensitive, Lemieux said people become extremely attached to their island lifestyle, and see it in jeopardy if getting there becomes too easy.
"People have moved to Gabriola for a way of life. That's their issue, I'm not saying it's my point of view," he said.
"They come over here and they don't want to have a bridge, because if they do their way of life will be the same as what they left."
It is an opinion deeply shared by Gabriola residents Ken Capon and his wife Cherryl Reed.
"There's something quite precious that's worth protecting. It's a cultural environment and a natural environment," Ken said in an interview Friday.
"The quality of the relationships within the community [is] warm and fuzzy," he added.
Reed said she feels the push for a bridge is always driven by business interests, and not necessarily supported by residents.
Jeremy Baker, an island resident who contacted BC Ferries about the issue last Friday, said he has supported a bridge for about 25 years and would like to see what people think about the idea.
"We should tailor a transportation system to be more suitable to the times," said Baker, who runs a courier company and uses the ferry for business.
"We're moving forward here and there are huge changes," he added.
Lemieux said his committee will have to discuss the offer for a survey before making a decision on how to proceed.
"It was very divisive," he said, reflecting on the old debate. "Now, maybe there's more people in favour. I'm not too sure."
jfowlie@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2008
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Post by kerryssi on Jun 28, 2008 10:26:28 GMT -8
The bridge idea is not new. Several studies have actualy been done on the ideas of bridge, tunnel,floating bridge etc. These are posted on a government site but I forget where it is now. You would have to go as far north as Campbell river to find a possible site. Forget the Straight of Georgia the sediment is a half mile deep. there is no solid bottom. A floating bridge would not last long before it was taken out by a freighter, cruise ship or storm. A tunnel has the same problems as a bridge, no solid land. A floating tunnel was suggested but again it would be subject to strong tides and storms. I cannot see anyone seriously suggesting that anyone going from Victoria to Vancouver would want to drive to Campbell river, pay an estimated $205.00 toll to crawl over a bridge then try to get down to Vancouver either over more bridges or on ferries. The estimated cost of a bridge is about one billion dollars.
The answer is to subsidize the ferry system the same as the rapid transit, bus system and road to Whistler is being done. This whole area is on a major fault line and we are due for a big one. A ferry system can survive an earthquake far better than a bridge can.
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Post by kerryssi on Jun 28, 2008 13:00:58 GMT -8
I went to Government of B.C. then transportation (marine) and searched Vancouver Island bridges. It is there under potential fixed link to Vancouver Island. Cost would be more like several billion with unproven technology.
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