Federal government backs Doerkson's pivot to new 10-lane George Massey Bridge | Daily Hive

Federal government backs Doerkson's pivot to building a new 10-lane George Massey Bridge

Lorne Doerkson and Steven MacKinnon at the Oct. 30, 2026 announcement on Roberts Bank Terminal 2 gaining the Government of Canada's project of national interest status. (Conservative Party of B.C.)

Just a week after the Conservative Party of British Columbia’s provincial election victory, the Government of Canada is backing Premier-elect Lorne Doerkson’s plan to build a 10-lane bridge to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel, abandoning the BC NDP’s project of building a new eight-lane immersed tunnel.

Federal Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon expressed that support in principle during the press conference on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, held in Delta to announce the federal government’s decision to grant national interest status for the new Roberts Bank Terminal 2 superport project.

When asked whether the federal government’s existing funding commitment for the immersed tunnel could follow the incoming Conservative provincial government’s proposed change in direction, MacKinnon said they would support the type of crossing chosen by Lorne’s administration.

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“Let me just say, we support crossing that river, whatever way the Premier tells us to. How about that? And if the Government of British Columbia says it wants to construct a bridge, we’re for a bridge,” said MacKinnon.

MacKinnon’s comments address a concern raised during the provincial election campaign: whether cancelling the BC NDP’s immersed tunnel concept would jeopardize the federal government’s contribution, announced in July 2026, of up to $3 billion toward its construction.

Outgoing Premier David Eby had argued that switching to a bridge would disrupt the early construction work and site preparation already underway, threaten construction jobs, and put that federal funding at risk. An Oct. 16 BC NDP statement asserted that the federal contribution would fall through if the Conservatives paused the project.

However, the federal Minister of Transport’s remarks signal clear federal government support for proceeding with a bridge, although it is unclear whether it would be subject to a revised federal funding agreement and amount, given the expected lower construction cost of building a bridge.

david eby george massey tunnel construction oct 16 2026

David Eby at the early works construction site for the new George Massey Tunnel at Deas Island on Oct. 16, 2026. (BC NDP)

The existing federal commitment was based on the revised estimated cost of $8.5 billion for the immersed tunnel project. That figure was announced by Eby’s administration for the first time in July 2026 — more than double the $4.15-billion estimate made about five years ago, when the BC NDP-led provincial government decided to proceed with an immersed tunnel concept.

Lorne’s incoming administration asserts that based on what experts have told them, reviving the original 10-lane bridge concept would save billions of dollars, reduce geotechnical and construction risks given the much greater complexities of an immersed tunnel, and deliver the crossing on a timeline similar to the immersed tunnel.

The original 10-lane bridge concept was spearheaded by Christy Clark’s BC Liberal government, but cancelled shortly after John Horgan’s BC NDP took office in 2017. Planning and design were already highly advanced, early construction works and site preparation was underway, general contractor selection was very close to being finalized, and major construction activity was expected to begin later that year. Based on that original timeline, the new seismic-safe crossing with far greater capacity than the existing 1959-built immersed tunnel would have reached completion and opened in 2022.

At the time of the cancellation in 2017, the lowest fixed-price bid came in at $2.6 billion for the overall package of the bridge and extensive Highway 99 corridor upgrades between the south end of the Oak Street Bridge in north Richmond and Delta — $900 million below the provincial government’s original $3.5-billion estimate.

Cancelled: Artistic rendering of the previous 10-lane George Massey Bridge project. (Government of BC)

Now, nearly a decade later, MacKinnon explained that the federal government had agreed to help finance a replacement crossing it would not ordinarily consider its responsibility because of the wider benefits to commuters and trade.

He linked the investment to improving traffic flow across the Lower Mainland and ensuring the region’s transportation network can support further trade infrastructure development.

He also said the federal government wanted to work with Doerkson to complete the crossing as quickly as possible.

“In the interest of this project, and in the interest of building corridors and quality of life, and better circulation around the Lower Mainland for the residents here, we think that investment is an important one, arguably a nationally important one. One that we think is important to the people who live here, and allows us to continue developing trade infrastructure in ways that support the people who support that trade infrastructure,” said MacKinnon.

“So we’re all in with Premier-elect Doerkson on his plans, and we look forward to working with him to get that thing done as quickly as possible. It’s been far too long.”

Steven MacKinnon at the Oct. 30, 2026 announcement on Roberts Bank Terminal 2 gaining the Government of Canada’s project of national interest status. (CPAC)

Doerkson said he had already discussed the crossing with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who supported replacing it in general terms.

“We have committed to a bridge, and it’s my understanding that the federal government will help with that,” said Doerkson.

The premier-elect also offered a lighthearted response to MacKinnon’s willingness to support his incoming administration’s preferred option.

“You might want to be careful what you committed to, because during the election, I said, residents don’t care if it’s a bridge, a tunnel, or a treadmill. They just want it done,” said Doerkson.

lorne doerkson gct deltaport oct 30 2026

Steven MacKinnon and Lorne Doerkson at the Oct. 30, 2026 announcement on Roberts Bank Terminal 2 gaining the Government of Canada’s project of national interest status. (Conservative Party of B.C.)

Early construction work and site preparation have been underway since January 2026 on Deas Island, right beside the existing tunnel’s south entrance. However, major construction of the immersed tunnel itself has not begun, and the main construction contracts have yet to be awarded.

In June 2026, Eby’s administration terminated its agreement with the European-led private consortium selected in 2024 to design and build the immersed tunnel, after the provincial government and the consortium failed to agree on commercial terms for the main construction phase — an issue of price and cost control.

The provincial government subsequently launched a new bidding process, dividing the remaining work into five smaller contracts instead of one large contract. Under that revised process, contractors for the first two packages were expected to be selected by early 2027, with procurement for the remaining three scheduled for 2027. It was asserted that this strategy of dividing up the contracts could reduce the cost pressures.

Under this rebooted procurement process, contractors for the first two contracts were expected to be selected by early 2027, with procurement for the remaining three contracts scheduled to begin later in 2027.

Major construction also depends on the immersed tunnel receiving its provincial environmental assessment certificate. When the assessment process first began in 2021, it was stated that the review was expected to reach completion in late 2024 or 2025. In June 2026, the provincial government said it expected the review to conclude by the end of the year. With two months remaining, it remains unclear whether that target will be met.

A new crossing would accommodate larger commercial vehicles and dangerous goods shipments restricted in the existing four-lane tunnel. The BC Trucking Association has previously favoured a bridge, citing safety concerns for drivers and emergency responders, particularly during tunnel fires. The new immersed tunnel was also designed to accommodate dangerous goods.

Improved vehicle traffic flow would also benefit trucks travelling between GCT Deltaport, the future Roberts Bank Terminal 2 superport and destinations north of the Fraser River.

A new bridge with ample clearance — not just overhead but also underwater, unlike an immersed tunnel — could also potentially allow larger ships to head up the Fraser River to reach Fraser Surrey Docks.

new george massey tunnel preliminary construction work may 21 2026

Site preparation and preliminary construction work for the new George Massey Tunnel, next to the south end of the existing tunnel as seen on May 21, 2026. (Government of B.C.)

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