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Choices
Value for Money
Cost estimates for the many options put forward for replacing the Lions Gate Bridge crossing range from a low of $135 million for a rehabilitated Lions Gate Bridge to a high of $1.2 billion for a tunnel on the Brockton Point Alignment (with the proponent suggesting costs be recovered from developing an artificial island created with the fill from the tunnel.) While absolute dollars spent is important, value for dollars spent is, in the long run, more important.

What's an Appropriate Cost? No absolute figure has been set. However one scenario is that tolls be imposed on any new crossing (bridge or tunnel) and the appropriate toll is about $2 per trip. At that rate, it is possible to pay for a $250 to $300 million project over a 20 - 25 year period. A higher toll ($3 or more) would send more people over the Second Narrows Bridge, and shift costs to Vancouver to get them downtown. The GVRD's Transport 2021 report suggests tolls on all major bridges, including the Second Narrows.

Projected Cost Estimates: At present, all project estimates are ballpark figures put together by qualified professionals working for the Ministry or the various proponents. Independent analysis of these costs showed that they are all in the right order of magnitude. However it is important to understand that with all projects, detailed engineering studies are needed to ensure that all options are developed using the same assumptions in order to produce more precise figures. It is also important to understand that the more complex the project, the more potential there is for costs to escalate significantly.

Value for Money: Generally speaking, building a brand new bridge of four lanes, or four lanes plus transit, is about the same cost as rehabilitating the Lions Gate Bridge with either a double-decked or widened single deck of similar capacity.

A new bridge will have a 100-year life span, while all rehabilitation options keep the two main support towers, which are already 55 years old. Also, traffic disruptions with a new bridge will be minimal, compared to those with rehabilitation projects.

At least two of the tunnel schemes have similar "value for money" attributes to a new bridge, assuming stated cost estimates are met.

Coices: Information Sheet #3

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