134 replies to this topic

[lanforod]

Labour is a huge part of any budget. The province now mandates that all labour on its projects is unionized.

 

I'm still very much peeved at that decision. I wish some deep pockets developers had sued over that discrimination.

[lanforod]

So the BCG can't budget a couple of mill for a middling pedestrian overpass in North Cowichan but can seemingly at will toss billions into any and every infrastructure project Greater Vancouver needs - skytrain expansion, bridges, highways, the infamous North Shore wastewater treatment plant (original budget $700 million estimated cost today $4 billion)....clearly the island doesn't hold enough political sway with the provincial NDP.

 

Guessing the latest election results hasn't helped the island's case either, therefore the correlation between political support in a region and the cash tossed in its direction by the government of the day is pretty obvious.

 

Seriously given the veritable ocean of money directed to YVR how much can a piddly pedestrian overpass cost in comparison? And I see just this last week a young FN girl was killed trying to cross on that very stretch of highway where the ovepass would be built.....

 

That's a different issue, ASE. An issue, yes, but not the same.

[Mike K.]

I'm still very much peeved at that decision. I wish some deep pockets developers had sued over that discrimination.

Builders created unionized subsidiaries to bid on government work.

It used to be that you’d spend a million a mile on BC roads. Now it’s $50 to $75 million.

[Victoria Watcher]

Labour is a huge part of any budget. The province now mandates that all labour on its projects is unionized.

It still should not cost $10,000 per metre.

Let’s say you have 4 unionized guys installing a metre a day. At $500 each. That’s only $2,000 labour.

I suspect through they could install 25 metres a day. Or more.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 May 2025 - 11:51 AM.

[Mike K.]

It’s quite the thing, this contract.

Does it include realignment of lanes, maybe? But still, we’re talking $5 million here, that’s an extraordinary amount of money.

[aastra]

For probably the first time ever I've gotta agree with Victoria Watcher. The price seems exorbitant and the purpose seems stupid. I honestly don't know how people can live around there when the spots for getting from one side to the other are so few and far between.

 

 

It’s similar to what is located further south in Greater Victoria where Spencer Road intersects with the Trans-Canada Highway.

 

Except only a lunatic would have reason to cross there (at Spencer Road) on foot (getting a closer look at those fine mature trees would probably be the major non-insane reason).  In Duncan's case there would seem to be plenty of stuff on the other side.

Edited by aastra, 09 May 2025 - 01:35 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The draw seems to be fast food.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 May 2025 - 01:32 PM.

[aastra]

This is what I'm saying. The comparison with Spencer Road is not apt. It's not an apt comparison.

No worries, I'm sure the government will read this discussion and start building a bunch of fast food places at Spencer Road ASAP.

[Mike K.]

Behind those fast food outlets is a concentration of social services. That may factor into the decision to erect this fencing and not just the provision of an overpass.

[Bambam]

Holy moly learned the hard way today not to drive along Gorge Rd- Hillside to get over to Pure Vanilla bakery/cafe in Oak Bay to pu a birthday cake. Took me almost 40 minutes from the Gorge due to construction along that road. I think this is where the old Oxford Arms motel is being demolished for a new condo or apartment. Traffic was literally backup up from roughly Washington St all the way west to Tillicum. Crazy.

[Mike K.]

Yeah, that’s likely because of the Burnside Road closure, I think? It can get really bad.

[LJ]

It’s quite the thing, this contract.

Does it include realignment of lanes, maybe? But still, we’re talking $5 million here, that’s an extraordinary amount of money.

I think we should get the VV construction crew together and offer to do it for $2.5.

[Mike K.]

Statement regarding the collision on Saturday.

On May 24, 2025, at approximately 5:20 p.m., West Shore RCMP attended the scene of a serious collision involving a cyclist and a Grey 2013 Toyota Sienna Van that took place just north of the Six Mile Rd on ramp in the north bound lanes of the Trans Canada Hwy in View Royal.

The cyclist, who is identified as an 80-year old man, was traveling South in the North bound lanes on the right-hand shoulder at the time of the collision. The cyclist and the van collided head on.

BC Emergency Health Services, Police, View Royal and Langford Fire Departments attended the scene. Life saving measures were applied, however the cyclist succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The van was being driven by a 51-year old man with a 15-year old passenger who were both taken to the hospital to receive care for non-life-threatening injuries.

North bound lanes were completely shut down for a number of hours while the West Shore RCMP Traffic Unit and Vancouver Island Collision Reconstructionist examined the scene. The highway was reopened at approximately 9:40 p.m..

The cause of the collision is still under investigation, however police have ruled out drugs and alcohol as contributing factors. Police are asking any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police to please come forward and provide their information. If you have a dash camera and were travelling on the Trans Canada Hwy near the Six Mile Rd on ramp on May 24, between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. please contact the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.

West Shore RCMP extends its condolences to the family and friends of the cyclist. We thank the public for their patience as emergency crews attended the scene as traffic was affected for a number of hours.

[max.bravo]

Very sad for all involved.
At 5:20 pm I wonder if glare from the sun was a factor. It’s right in your face heading northbound on some parts of the highway there.

Didn’t help that the cyclist was riding opposed to traffic. If he was indeed crossing the exit or on ramp lane, that’s not a direction you’d expect to see a cyclist moving. If there’s a cyclist crossing an exit lane or on ramp you plan for them to be moving right to left. This guy might have been moving the opposite direction to the surprise of vehicles.

[mbjj]

I grew up in Duncan but of course there were far fewer fast food places at that end of town. Beverly St. didn't even intersect with the highway, it made a sharp turn and ran parallel. We used the traffic light at the highway and James St. There was a Tastee Freeze and a corner store we all went to. No way would we attempt to run across a busy highway! I would have thought a culvert-like underpass would be more practical. 

[splashflash]

I would have thought a culvert-like underpass would be more practical.

Flooding may preclude that.

[Mike K.]

Underground spaces are also more dangerous from a crime perspective.

[LJ]

I was on the TCH today about noon northbound when a guy lost 6 wooden boxes in the right hand lane, fortunately we had time to stop before impacting them. Talk about your insecure load, out of the back of a pickup.

[Fox]

Similar thing happened to me a month ago, northbound past uptown and a roofing truck in front of me lost a sheet of plywood. I had to duck as it sailed over my helmet. I pulled up beside the guy and honked/yelled but he ignored me completely (his window was even open). I don't even want to know what would have happened if it hit me.

[marks_28]

Underpass under TCH at Seaton Rd. never seems to have these issues. Or the one under Hwy17 at Royal Oak Ave. Still waiting for the one at the TCH and Spencer Road that Stew Young promised years ago.