A bridge too far: Link to Sunshine Coast axed

Building a bridge or road link to British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has too many technical and financial hurdles, so the provincial government says it’s giving up on the idea. The former Liberal government launched a feasibility study on the idea of a fixed link in November 2015. The NDP government has released a report with the announcement that it wouldn’t be proceeding with the plan. The study narrowed its investigation to two bridge links and two road crossings, each costing an estimated $2.1 billion to $4.4 billion. The report says all of the options presented serious challenges, including rocky inclines, mountain passes and deepwater channels. The government also says in a news release that none of the links would completely eliminate the need for a ferry crossing, which currently services communities on the Sunshine Coast. All four of the scenarios would have high provincial capital and operating costs, the report says. “User benefits are limited because of modest forecast traffic volumes, as well as the additional travel distances associated with three of the scenarios,” the report issued Thursday says.