Bridge to the Island

[Popeye69]

I wonder if any feasibility studies have been done to see if its possible?? Now before I get jumped on by "it costs too much" lets talk about "if" its possible what costs would be.. One huge cost that can be cut right off the top is...
DO NOT let the government design said bridge. Offer a contest, whatever university that comes up with a winning and approved design gets a prize, say 1 million bucks.
Why not let the government(municipal or provincial) design it??? Take a look at the Bennett bridge in Kelowna, it costs millions just in the design phase alone and when it was said and done anyone could of designed it, hell we have a engineering school here that probably would of done it for free as a project!! Lets utilize and challenge our future designers.. hold a contest.
The government is counting on billions from the gas fields so lets get these pipelines built, start shipping gas to China. Theres money. The government is spending millions upon millions of dollars on operating the ferries and always losing money. Once the bridge is built funnel the ferry money into paying off said bridge until paid for.
Place a toll on the bridge as well just like the new bridge heading into Vancouver, there is more income to pay off the bridge.
In five minutes a person can come up with a few ways to pay for a billion dollar bridge. Wont be quick by no means but it is feasible. We could even get federal help I'm sure. Look at the confederation bridge out east, its possible to span huge distances with a bridge so physically to me it seems feasible.
I would like to hear what anyone thinks on this, good or bad idea.

[LoneWolf_53]

I think the ferry workers would do everything and anything in their power to kibosh any such plan.

I'm of the mind that if they can build a bridge to Newfoundland(wrong rock) PEI then they could sure as heck build one to the Island, and in the process eliminate the ever escalating costs associated with the ferry system.

Jobs would be created in the process, and in the end a fair chunk of the money pit known as BC Ferry Corporation could be scrapped.

[underscore]

You do realize that the ferries service more than just the main island, right?

[LoneWolf_53]

You do realize that the ferries service more than just the main island, right?

Yes but I'd have to figure that boats to the main Island see the most useage ergo the greatest benefit to travelers.

[Glacier]

Considering the fact that BC ferries announced today that they will be eliminating the ferry route between Port Hardy and Bella Coola do to a lack of money, I suspect that there is no money to build a bridge. Hwy 5 and Hwy 1 should be twinned first. Safety before wish lists, please.

[Bsuds]

It seems the northern routes lose more money than the Island route so a bridge won't help that aspect much.

[goatboy]

They haven't built a bridge to Newfoundland, it's to PEI. As far as crossing the Georgia Straight, it's too deep for a bridge.

[GordonH]

To many to's:

to deep
to long
to far (from lower mainland to make the bridge shorter in length)
to expensive
etc..etc..etc

Added later: taking a quick look at satellite map of GVRD the only area that may have secure anchor (reasonable bedrock) would be point grey near UBC. Which would be a very long bridge with area's needed for tanker traffic.
Not going to happen in my life time.

[Captain Awesome]

Why not let the government(municipal or provincial) design it??? Take a look at the Bennett bridge in Kelowna, it costs millions just in the design phase alone and when it was said and done anyone could of designed it, hell we have a engineering school here that probably would of done it for free as a project!!

Newsflash - governments don't design bridges. Engineering companies do.

And no, not everybody can design a bridge. Jesus...

[Gilchy]

I wonder if any feasibility studies have been done to see if its possible?? Now before I get jumped on by "it costs too much" lets talk about "if" its possible what costs would be.. One huge cost that can be cut right off the top is...
DO NOT let the government design said bridge. Offer a contest, whatever university that comes up with a winning and approved design gets a prize, say 1 million bucks.
Why not let the government(municipal or provincial) design it??? Take a look at the Bennett bridge in Kelowna, it costs millions just in the design phase alone and when it was said and done anyone could of designed it, hell we have a engineering school here that probably would of done it for free as a project!! Lets utilize and challenge our future designers.. hold a contest.

You are aware that design incorporates much, much more than how something looks, right? And that the bridge/tunnel would have to navigate one of the busiest shipping routes in Western North America? And that you couldn't simply put bright pilings into the mud on the deepwater bottom? A lot more goes into planning something than "that looks purdy...".

[Hassel99]

oh this thread yet again


/rollseyes

[LoneWolf_53]

They haven't built a bridge to Newfoundland, it's to PEI. As far as crossing the Georgia Straight, it's too deep for a bridge.

My bad, forgive me. I knew it was some rock on the east coast. 8-P

[Popeye69]

To Captain Awesome and Gilchy... Yes yes yes well aware of both your guys points. Just didn't feel like writing another five paragraphs to explain the details of what goes into engineering and the elaborate process of putting a job out to tender by a government or municipality, then the bidding process yadda yadda yadda.. Thanks for pointing out the obvious, I'll make sure I go into exquisite detail for you guys next time so you guys don't get left behind.

[Gilchy]

To Captain Awesome and Gilchy... Yes yes yes well aware of both your guys points. Just didn't feel like writing another five paragraphs to explain the details of what goes into engineering and the elaborate process of putting a job out to tender by a government or municipality, then the bidding process yadda yadda yadda.. Thanks for pointing out the obvious, I'll make sure I go into exquisite detail for you guys next time so you guys don't get left behind.

Yes we were the ones missing out on some details.... Your original post didn't indicate any of that. Regardless, would love to see a bridge to the Island, I hate the ferries. Unfortunately won't happen anytime soon though.

[NAB]

It won't happen period. How many times does this subject have to be discussed in detail before everyone gets it?

Nab