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News Views: Jammed

Maple Ridge roads congested since bridge tolls removed.
11027054_web1_Golden-Ears
The Golden Ears Bridge is busier since tolls were removed. (Black Press/files)

Since tolls were removed from the Golden Ears Bridge on Sept. 1, roads leading from it in Maple Ridge have become congested during the afternoon rush-hour, as one might expect.

But now TransLink and the city have to do something about it.

The off-ramp to Maple Meadows Way is at a standstill on weekday afternoons, as is the single east-bound lane of Golden Ears Way, east of Lougheed Highway.

And traffic is backed up through the Maple Ridge Business Park along 113B Avenue as commuters look for another way to get home more quickly.

It gets worse when trains cut off access to 203rd Street.

The traffic circle off the bridge at 113B Ave. can get clogged.

Commuters take back routes, through the business park or Hammond, to avoid the jams, including those on Lougheed Highway.

Next month, TransLink will launch the beginnings of an area transport plan for Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

A part of that will be discussion around the route for the planned B-Line bus service from Haney Place Mall to Coquitlam Central SkyTrain station, and stops along the way.

But the planning session will also be an opportunity to discuss other transportation and transit needs.

The city wants TransLink to widen Golden Ears Way to four lanes from two, to match 128 Avenue and relieve congestion.

There is room to do so.

Bridge crossings have increased about 30 per cent since the tolls were removed.

One benefit, there’s more available parking near the bridge on the Maple Ridge side as fewer commuters carpool across to avoid paying tolls.

Sounds like an opportunity for another a B-Line.

– Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News