There were no accidents because these drivers are professional, or at least I would hope they are.
As for route changes, they happen all the time and people adapt as it will have to be for us all including the tuckers.
By the way the damages done to the upper reaches of the bridge were done by truckers who bypassed the north scales by going down Foothills and North Nechako with their over height and aver weight loads. I ahve followed many of them over the years.
If they aren't or don't feel confident to drive where they must then park them and find another job.

So if the 5th and Carney intersection is so dangerous why not get some traffic control people down there during that bad hour in the morning to assist the trucks with getting around that corner instead of everyone saying it is just an accident waiting to happen. Nothing saying an accident will not happen some other time of the day but at least for the timeframe that the trucking association has said is a big issue get some assistance down there so that people leave enough room for the trucks to turn. I have watched them make that corner and yes some of those professional drivers are great at doing it !

I dont agree that the Cameron St. Bridge has to be replaced. It can be repaired so that it can handle the same traffic that it handled in the past. This would cost us $724,000.00 which includes resurfacing. (Figures from Frank Blue city Transportation Manager).

The City (Mayor) have screwed up this whole situation by closing the Bridge and now waiting for a study to be completed to see if the present piers can hold up a steel superstructure. If they cant then they will want to build an entirely new bridge. The steel superstructure will cost approx 7/10 Million dollars and the City will probably have to go it alone. The new bridge will cost 22 Million dollars and the City will have to come up with 7/8 Million and get 7 Million each from the Federal and Provincial Governments.

Now why wouldnt we just repair the Bridge and continue to use it as we have in the past and get at least another 10 years out of it. By that time we will know for sure what is left in this town for Industry because of the Pine Beetle, and how many pulp mills are still operating. Its likely that the overall populaton will have decreased so there probably will never be a need for a new bridge.

The answer is simple. In order to get money from the Federal and Provincial Governments you need to have a major capital project, we dont have any, so the Mayor has come up with the idea to build a new bridge and has asked the Province, and Federal Government to pay two thirds. (14 Million). Part of his problem is, is that he will be hard pressed to convince these Governments that this bridge is a necessity, especially as we already have 6 lanes across this river within 2 miles of the Cameron St. Bridge. In any event if you come up with the project you can apply for Federal, Provincial funding. I would suggest the same kind of flawed thinking is taking place to build a co-generation plant to heat downtown buildings with hot water. Just another not needed project to get money out of the Governments and create a few short term jobs. These types of situations are a direct result of the Provincial and Federal Governments having strings attached to money that is given to the Municipalities. We could use all this money to repave every road in Prince George, however there is no money available for paving.

Has anyone considered the actual cost to Taxpayers in having the Camerson St Bridge closed for 2 1/2 years. The cost in additional time and gas in itself would be staggering, in addition what about causing all the additional problems to Taxpayers for no apparent reason, not to mention the safety factor. If we go without a bridge for 2 1/2 years, why would you think we need one at all??

It is pretty obvious that Taxpayers and Citizens using this bridge were given short shrift. It seems their cares and concerns are of little consequence to those guys at City Hall.

Its time for the Mayor and Council to revisit this issue and repair this bridge and go on to something else.

Prince George with a population of 75000 people spends approx 135 Million dollars per year. 55 Million from taxpayers and 80 Million from transfer payments. You would think this amount of money would be more that sufficient to look after our needs, but no, we have to borrow money and go into debt. We have a serious fiscal responsibility problem in this City and we better come to terms with it soon.

Hopefully the City will have to go to a referendum to borrow money for this bridge. I for one will do all possible to see that it doesnt pass.

>"Now why wouldnt we just repair the Bridge and continue to use it as we have in the past and get at least another 10 years out of it."<

Well said. It looks as if the mayor needs a NEW Cameron Street Bridge Project as a triumph to take credit for in the next municipal election two and a half years from now. One can take credit for milking 14 million bucks out of the federal and provincial governments, while making the city's share of 7 million look like a mere pittance.

If that is the case then all the logic contained in your argument above will fall on deaf ears at City Hall.

I would not expect to see a referendum on an issue like that bridge.

Politics are not about common sense and reality.

Diplomat. If enough people oppose the borrowing of the 7 Million then the City will be forced to go to a referendum the same as they had to do for the Terasen Gas deal. It will probably require something in the area of 2000 signatures to force a referendum. The only way they could get around it, would be to borrow the money internally from their income from Terasen Gas on somesuch thing. We will just have to wait and see.