Rally planned against east-end interprovincial bridge
Posted Jun 12, 2012 12:56:47 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The National Capital Commission is holding an information session on a new interprovincial bridge in the east end of the capital.
A range of east-end residents’ groups are opposed to any of the three proposed routes, and plan to hold a rally and make their views known.
The groups opposed to the new crossing say not enough research has been done to show that this is the best solution to the problem of truck traffic on King Edward Avenue.
“In (the NCC’s) report, they talk about possibly banning trucks on the MacDonald-Cartier; if that’s the case, they conclude themselves that trucks will then go on the Chaudiere bridge,” said Fernand Lalonde, with Common Sense Crossings.
“It’s too far out of the way; we don’t expect that trucks will come all the way out here to get over to Hull,” Lalonde said.
The estimated price tag of the bridge is $500-million. It’s a price too high for those opposed to the bridge — who say it’s not just an east-end issue.
“People in the west end and downtown pay taxes too,” said Lori Assheton-Smith with the Rockcliffe Park Residents Association. “I think we should all be demanding that that homework gets done before we spend half a billion dollars.”
Both groups, and others, plan to be at the Shenkman Centre tonight, at the NCC’s open house and information session, which runs from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Some of the residents’ groups plan to rally outside the session, at 7:30 p.m.
