The District of Port Edward postponed starting the last part of engineering plans for the planned Wampler Way bypass road last week.
The proposed road would remove heavy traffic from Skeena Drive, with vehicles being able to exit the highway before the entrance of Watson Island onto a road looping behind the community’s current footprint. The road would reconnect to Skeena Drive well past any existing development.
Pacific NorthWest LNG has agreed to fund a portion of the bypass road’s construction after the company made a positive final investment decision for its Lelu Island terminal in June, as the project would create an increase in traffic flow through the community.
Bob Payette, chief administrative officer of Port Edward, said approximately 80 per cent of engineering plans for the road have been executed, with just final engineering specifications being outstanding. He estimated it will take between three and four months to complete.
“The question is do we go ahead with that and get the final engineering done, or do we wait for a final investment decision from PNW LNG [and its conditions] to commence,” he told council last week.
“Do we get it done and put forward the extra funds and save ourselves four months of agony, or do we save that money and wait and have four months of extra traffic?”
Port Edward council agreed to postpone making a decision for a couple of weeks in order to get more information.
