With visions of last years once in century flood still in their minds, the provincial government has decided on a 200 thousand dollar improvement plan for the ”Cranberry connector” the roughed out logging road that for a period of time this spring served as the main link between Terrace and the rest of the province.
And while 200 thou may seem like a large number, in the opinion of North Coast MLA Gary Coons it is not near enough to make the northeastern access road to Terrace anywhere near suitable. The NDP concerns over the state of the secondary access to Terrace has been prominent for a number of years, with both local MLA's in the northwest outlining their concerns back in May.
The latest government plans and the North Coast NDP MLA’s thoughts were both presented as the front page story in Thursday’s edition of the Daily News.
CRANBERRY CONNECTOR IS TO GET A $200,000 MAKE-OVER
But North Coast MLA Gary Coons says that is far short of what is needed for route
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Pages one and five
The provincial government has decided to contribute $200,000 to upgrade the Cranberry Connector following flooding last spring.
The one-time funding is in recognition of the exceptional circumstance this past spring, when flooding closed Highway 16 to the west of Terrace, and when a mudslide and flooding also closed the highway to the east.
During the closure, motorists used the Cranberry Connector as a crucial link to neighbouring communities.
The 35-km single lane, logging road connects the Nass Valley with highway 37 north of Kitwanga.
The road is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Forests and Range, which will be responsible for determining the best use of the funds to improve the road.
Currently, the ministry contributes $50,000 annually to the upkeep of the route and $70,000 was put in to make the road’s maintenance through the Provincial Emergency Program grant this spring.
However, North Coast MLA Gary Coons said he is not sure that the extra money is enough to keep communities and businesses connected in the vent of another disaster.
“The Campbell Liberals are misinformed if they think that $200,000 will pay for all the upgrades, this crucial element of our transportation network requires,” said Coons.
“I drove on the road three weeks ago, the condition it’s in, unpaved, unsafe and pitted with potholes, is unacceptable. The people of the Northwest deserve better.”
During the flood last spring, the road was the only connection for some northern communities as groceries, gasoline and other vital supplies were trucked in through the secondary route.
“The Cranberry must be recognized as integral to emergency services for those who live in the Nass Valley, and accordingly, be upgraded to a secondary highway under the domain of the Ministry of Transportation,” said Coons.
“The basic infrastructure needs of rural British Columbia have to be addressed before we get caught up in the grandiose plans for more developed areas of the province,” said Coons.
“Rural British Columbians are becoming more and more frustrated with the way this government dismisses our simple and valid safety concerns.”
Coons added that although Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon’s gateway plan for the Lower Mainland is budgeted in the billions, the Campbell Liberal government has thus far been unwilling to commit to paving the Cranberry Connector.
And while 200 thou may seem like a large number, in the opinion of North Coast MLA Gary Coons it is not near enough to make the northeastern access road to Terrace anywhere near suitable. The NDP concerns over the state of the secondary access to Terrace has been prominent for a number of years, with both local MLA's in the northwest outlining their concerns back in May.
The latest government plans and the North Coast NDP MLA’s thoughts were both presented as the front page story in Thursday’s edition of the Daily News.
CRANBERRY CONNECTOR IS TO GET A $200,000 MAKE-OVER
But North Coast MLA Gary Coons says that is far short of what is needed for route
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Pages one and five
The provincial government has decided to contribute $200,000 to upgrade the Cranberry Connector following flooding last spring.
The one-time funding is in recognition of the exceptional circumstance this past spring, when flooding closed Highway 16 to the west of Terrace, and when a mudslide and flooding also closed the highway to the east.
During the closure, motorists used the Cranberry Connector as a crucial link to neighbouring communities.
The 35-km single lane, logging road connects the Nass Valley with highway 37 north of Kitwanga.
The road is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Forests and Range, which will be responsible for determining the best use of the funds to improve the road.
Currently, the ministry contributes $50,000 annually to the upkeep of the route and $70,000 was put in to make the road’s maintenance through the Provincial Emergency Program grant this spring.
However, North Coast MLA Gary Coons said he is not sure that the extra money is enough to keep communities and businesses connected in the vent of another disaster.
“The Campbell Liberals are misinformed if they think that $200,000 will pay for all the upgrades, this crucial element of our transportation network requires,” said Coons.
“I drove on the road three weeks ago, the condition it’s in, unpaved, unsafe and pitted with potholes, is unacceptable. The people of the Northwest deserve better.”
During the flood last spring, the road was the only connection for some northern communities as groceries, gasoline and other vital supplies were trucked in through the secondary route.
“The Cranberry must be recognized as integral to emergency services for those who live in the Nass Valley, and accordingly, be upgraded to a secondary highway under the domain of the Ministry of Transportation,” said Coons.
“The basic infrastructure needs of rural British Columbia have to be addressed before we get caught up in the grandiose plans for more developed areas of the province,” said Coons.
“Rural British Columbians are becoming more and more frustrated with the way this government dismisses our simple and valid safety concerns.”
Coons added that although Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon’s gateway plan for the Lower Mainland is budgeted in the billions, the Campbell Liberal government has thus far been unwilling to commit to paving the Cranberry Connector.
“What our regions went through last spring would not be tolerated in urban areas of our province,” Coons noted. “This government’s consistent lack of attention to essential infrastructure has been, and continues to be, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to economic revival in the northwest.”
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