111 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.