Doerkson Calls for Halt to Massey Tunnel Replacement Until Options Finalized
Doerkson says 10-lane bridge would cost billions less and wants no new contracts or commitments before his cabinet reviews the project.
- On Thursday, Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson requested that the outgoing NDP government halt new work on the Massey Tunnel replacement until his Conservative administration takes office on Nov. 20, 2026.
- The Conservatives campaigned on a promise to scrap the $8.5-billion tunnel in favour of a 10-lane bridge over the Fraser River, originally announced by the BC Liberals in 2013.
- In a news release, Doerkson said "work that is necessary should continue" until his cabinet assumes power, but requested that no new contracts or procurement decisions proceed during the transition.
- Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon noted after the election that Ottawa supports the crossing regardless of the specific method, having previously committed up to $3 billion to the project.
- Former premier John Horgan faced a similar situation with the Site C dam in 2017, when he briefly asked BC Hydro to pause contracts before ultimately allowing construction to proceed.
14 Articles
14 Articles
B.C. premier-designate Doerkson wants to pause Massey Tunnel replacement work until new cabinet ready
B.C.'s premier-designate is calling on the outgoing New Democrat provincial government to halt work on a Massey Tunnel replacement that would not support switching to a bridge option which he promised ahead of last month's election.
Mike Farnworth slams Premier-elect Doerkson on Massey controversy
MIKE Farnworth, Minister of Transportation in the NDP government, on Thursday slammed Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson for his statement on the George Massey crossing, saying: “This is a strange attempt by Lorne Doerkson to pin the costs of this reckless promise on anyone but himself. He knew when he promised to cancel this tunnel that construction […]
Incoming Premier calls on BC NDP to halt new George Massey Tunnel-specific work
In just a week, Lorne Doerkson will officially become the premier of British Columbia, and his Conservative party will form a majority provincial government. Today, the incoming premier is asking David Eby’s outgoing BC NDP administration to avoid any further commitments that would lock the provincial government into building a new immersed tunnel to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel, as his incoming administration prepares to seriously con…
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