It’s looking like a new eight lane crossing will be replacing the George Massey Tunnel.

That’s according to Mayor George Harvie who appeared to have inadvertently let the cat out of the bag at last week’s TransLink Mayors’ Council meeting. While a Global news camera was still filming, the Delta mayor proclaimed it’s looking like there will be an eight-lane crossing with two lanes dedicated for transit. Before he could explain any further, one of the other mayors interrupted, reminding him it was a closed-door meeting.

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Asked if the mayors were given a heads-up by the government which way the province is leaning, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure told theOptimist that the ministry is working closely with the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Task Force, Indigenous groups, TransLink and other stakeholders to develop and evaluate crossing options. The next task force meeting is scheduled for Oct. 2. Public consultation on a preferred option is tentatively planned for later this year, followed by a business case by fall of 2020.

The ministry also notes the list of options is available on the project website. All options call for a total of eight lanes with two dedicated for transit. All options also include pedestrian and cycling paths.

Project updates and list of options are available online at https://engage.gov.bc.ca/masseytunnel/.

Dates for the public comment period will be determined, advertised and posted to that website.

Earlier this year, Premier John Horgan openly hinted a twin-tunnel proposal would get serious consideration from his government.

He also said his government views the consensus among the mayors as an opportunity to move quickly on a replacement, although he didn’t say whether the timeline to have a business case completed will be done any sooner than the transportation ministry’s original late 2020 timeline.