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Gabriola situation not comparable

Editor: Re: Jan. 29 editorial, “One more fixed link study to go.” Comparing the fixed link study from Vancouver Island to Gabriola Island with the proposed link to the Sunshine Coast is tempting, but our circumstances could hardly be more different.

Editor:

Re: Jan. 29 editorial, “One more fixed link study to go.”

Comparing the fixed link study from Vancouver Island to Gabriola Island with the proposed link to the Sunshine Coast is tempting, but our circumstances could hardly be more different.

Our Coast community is many times larger, and the potential link would bring us important economic benefits.

The transportation infrastructure of the Sunshine Coast is also very important for Powell River. This is a major part of the Sunshine Coast that now must rely on two ferries to get to Vancouver. Comox and Vancouver Island, with three ferries, would also be served by this link.

Ferry transportation is costly and just not adequate for modern times, when we have the advancing technology to build a more economic fixed link. Europeans have generally found bridges and tunnels to be greener than ferries.

The Sunshine Coast is part of the mainland, so an extension of the Trans-Canada Highway seems quite natural.

With the steady demise of natural resource jobs on the Coast, we need every encouragement for new industry. Reliable, affordable transportation links will help considerably.

We should also look at developing Port Mellon, a deep sea port that would be safer than Burrard Inlet, and see what commodities can be transferred from the inner Vancouver harbour and thus create jobs for the Coast.

There are different ways to build a fixed link. See some of them at sunshinecoastconnector.wordpress.com

Oddvin Vedo, Sechelt