The Editor,
Re. “Bridge over the inlet best in the long-term.” (Letters, The Tri-City News, June 27).
I sympathize with letter writer Monica Keen and all who oppose a road through Bert Flinn Park. I don’t know anyone who would want a road through a park, if it could be avoided. Sadly, as the recent engineering study has shown, there is little alternative.
Ioco Road was built to accommodate traffic to and from the original Ioco townsite, some 80 plus residential lots, which is the Port Moody portion of the Ioco lands. The study confirms that Ioco Road is capable of handling up to 100 single-family homes, even though there are serious safety and access issues from residents’ driveways and adjacent side streets.
The northern portion of the Ioco lands (150 acres) is in Anmore and will always be better served by a David Avenue extension through Bert Flinn Park, a much more direct and user-friendly route — sad but true. It is a myth to suggest that new residents of this area would divert to Ioco Road, a much longer and slower commute.
The “bridge option” shown in the study by the engineer is an afterthought. Any serious consideration of a bridge would be at the narrowest crossing, nearer to Barnet Marine and over to Belcarra Regional Park. The limited development potential of this whole area precludes a bridge as a serious contender.
Whilst a road through Bert Flinn park is the least savoury option to us all, it still ranks as the best option for development of these lands. Despite what some would have you believe, a road through the park would not be catastrophic. There are other roads through this pristine area that have had little effect on its natural beauty.
Jon & Mavis Wheatley,
Port Moody
