It is hard to say when a freeway or road building project is dead. They have a bad habit of emerging from the grave, smelling worse than ever.
The Third Crossing freeway project (from downtown Vancouver to the North Shore) was killed off in 1972. But rose from the grave a number of times since, only to be killed off again and again. A few well-placed condo towers on the Vancouver side have closed off at least one potential route - but who knows if we will have to fight the same battle once again.
However, the North Fraser Perimeter Road seems to have been buried, not quite as deeply as I would like. But it is dead enough to hold a wake and dance on the grave.
Consider this belated letter from Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation, to a New West resident the grave marker. (But keep watch for grave robbers trying to dig up the corpse.)
196101 - United Boulevard Extension
Dear Mary Ann:
Thank you for your e-mail of June 2, 2011, regarding the proposed United Boulevard Extension project for the North Fraser Perimeter Road. Please accept my apologies for the lateness of this reply.
I recognize many residents in the cities of New Westminster and Coquitlam, along with New Westminster City Council, did not support the United Boulevard Extension project during TransLink's community consultation program. As United Boulevard falls outside the ministry's jurisdiction and under that of TransLink, the ministry has no plans to interfere with TransLink's decision not to pursue this project at this time.
I have taken the liberty of sharing your comments with TransLink Chair Nancy Olewiler so she will be aware of your support for TransLink's decision.
You can be sure we will continue to work in partnership with TransLink and local municipalities to advance critical transportation projects in the region.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
Sincerely,
Blair Lekstrom
Minister
Copy to: Nancy Olewiler, Board Chair
TransLink
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