This illustrates the bitch fight between Coq and New West.
What is fascinating and new (to me) is to move Royal Columbia to Riverview!? I know Douglas wants to have a nursing school at Riverview.. but I didn't know RCH wanted to move? Honestly St. Paul's need to redevelop first then RCH but I guess Providence Health can get money from the higher ups... while RCH can raise money concurrently.
Coquitlam mayor calls for new bridge after crash
A serious crash that shut down North Road during the rush-hour commute Tuesday has the mayor of Coquitlam once again calling for a replacement for the one-lane Bailey bridge that connects his city to New Westminster.
Mayor Richard Stewart said he’s concerned residents in medical need, like the patients in the most recent crash, won’t be able to make it to Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) in time for treatment because of traffic.
“We simply need that road network to be more forgiving of traffic accidents,” he told the Tri-Cities NOW. “We’re going to have people die.”
He noted that on Tuesday, North Road was shut down, leaving only two options available for people trying to get to the regional hospital, one of which was the one-lane bridge.
He said to replace the current Bailey bridge with another single-lane span is “out of the question.”
BRIDGE WAS SHUT DOWN OVER STRUCTURAL ISSUES
The dispute between the two municipalities over the crossing has intensified in recent months after the bridge, which connects United Boulevard in Coquitlam to Braid Street in New Westminster, was shut down in February due to structural issues.
NEW WESTMINSTER OPPOSES NEW BRIDGE
The mayor and others in Coquitlam have been calling for a complete replacement of the Bailey bridge with a four-lane span, but New West continues to oppose the plan.
Last month, Coquitlam council asked the province to intervene via mediation or arbitration in an effort to ensure that a two-lane bridge is built to replace the existing crossing.
Currently, the bridge sits inside New Westminster’s boundaries and is maintained by that city, but both municipalities split the cost in half. The Bailey bridge was first put in place in 1995.
Two years ago, TransLink and the City of New Westminster rejected a United Boulevard extension.
Stewart said he’s spoken with New West Mayor Wayne Wright, who has told him he understands the concerns.
But the Coquitlam mayor suggested New West isn’t interested in replacing the bridge until traffic issues along the entire corridor are addressed.
CALLS FOR HOSPITAL TO MOVE
Stewart also said he agrees with some residents who question the idea of building a brand new RCH at the current site.
Instead, he suggested a new regional hospital would make more sense in Coquitlam at the old Riverview site.
“It doesn’t make sense at all to rebuild it [RCH] on that site given the enormous transportation challenges,” Stewart said. “You have to be able to get to the hospital.”
THREE HURT IN CRASH
As for the crash, three people were taken to hospital after a dump truck heading southbound along North Road collided head-on with a pickup truck.
Police said it appeared the dump truck driver applied the brakes and somehow jack-knifed into oncoming traffic.
In all, four vehicles were involved in the crash, which occurred around 1:30 p.m. near the New West border.
The two occupants of the pickup received extensive but non-life-threatening injuries.
The dump truck driver was also taken to hospital.
RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said investigators spoke with witnesses at the scene and speed is not considered to be a factor in the crash.
He did note a mechanical inspection would be part of the investigation.
The road was eventually reopened by 9:30 Tuesday night.
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Coquitlam mayor calls for new bridge after crash