Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleThe federal government says it supports Premier-elect Lorne Doerkson’s plan to replace the George Massey Tunnel with a 10-lane bridge, according to Daily Hive Vancouver. The plan would replace the BC NDP’s eight-lane immersed tunnel project.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon gave the support in principle on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. He was speaking at a news conference in Delta, called to announce national interest status for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 superport project.
“We’re for a bridge”
MacKinnon was asked whether Ottawa’s existing funding commitment for the tunnel could follow the Conservatives’ change of direction. He said the federal government would support whatever type of crossing the provincial government chooses.
“If the Government of British Columbia says it wants to construct a bridge, we’re for a bridge,” he said. He added that Ottawa wants to work with Doerkson to finish the crossing as quickly as possible.
MacKinnon said the federal government agreed to help pay for a replacement crossing, though it would not normally consider this its responsibility. He cited wider benefits for commuters and trade, and tied the investment to better traffic flow across the Lower Mainland.
Doerkson said he had already discussed the crossing with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who supported replacing it in general terms. He said it is his understanding that the federal government will help with a bridge.
He also joked about the debate. During the election, he said, residents “don’t care if it’s a bridge, a tunnel, or a treadmill.” They just want it done.
Funding question remains open
The federal government announced in July 2026 that it would contribute up to $3 billion toward the tunnel. That commitment was based on a revised cost estimate of $8.5 billion, which the Eby government released for the first time that month. The figure is more than double the $4.15-billion estimate made about five years earlier.
During the campaign, outgoing Premier David Eby argued that switching to a bridge would disrupt early construction work already underway, threaten jobs and put the federal money at risk. A BC NDP statement on Oct. 16 asserted that the federal contribution would fall through if the Conservatives paused the project.
Daily Hive reports that it is unclear whether a bridge would require a revised federal funding agreement and amount, given its expected lower construction cost.
Doerkson’s incoming administration asserts, based on what experts have told it, that a bridge would save billions of dollars. It also says a bridge would reduce geotechnical and construction risks and could be delivered on a timeline similar to the tunnel’s.
Where the tunnel project stands
Early construction work and site preparation have been underway on Deas Island since January 2026. Major construction of the tunnel itself has not begun, and the main construction contracts have not been awarded.
In June 2026, the Eby government ended its agreement with the European-led consortium selected in 2024 to design and build the tunnel. The two sides could not agree on commercial terms for the main construction phase. The province then launched a new bidding process that splits the remaining work into five smaller contracts.
Contractors for the first two packages were expected to be selected by early 2027, and procurement for the other three is scheduled for later in 2027. Major construction also depends on the project receiving its provincial environmental assessment certificate. In June 2026, the province said it expected that review to conclude by the end of the year. Daily Hive notes it is unclear whether that target will be met.
A bridge was cancelled in 2017
A 10-lane bridge was first pursued under Christy Clark’s BC Liberal government. It was cancelled shortly after John Horgan’s BC NDP took office in 2017, Daily Hive reports. At that point, the lowest fixed-price bid was $2.6 billion for the bridge and Highway 99 corridor upgrades. That was $900 million below the province’s $3.5-billion estimate.
A new crossing would carry larger commercial vehicles and dangerous goods shipments that are restricted in the existing four-lane tunnel, which was built in 1959. The BC Trucking Association has previously favoured a bridge, citing safety concerns for drivers and emergency responders, particularly during tunnel fires.
Source: Daily Hive Vancouver (lead)
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
