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VICTORIA — B.C.’s transportation minister says she’ll need the entire summer to read a report into how to fix or replace the aging Massey tunnel, drawing criticism that her government appears to be in no hurry to replace B.C.’s worst traffic bottleneck.

Claire Trevena said a report by professional engineer Stan Cowdell into options to fix or replace the 60-year-old tunnel that links Delta and Richmond will be done this month.

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“I anticipate it on my desk, hopefully, by the end of (June),” Trevena said. “I’ll be absorbing it over the summer and taking next steps from there.”

Photo by DARREN STONE / PNG

The public likely won’t get to read the report until Trevena is done following the summer.

“I don’t know what is in it yet, so I’d prefer to get it first myself and make the decision then,” she added. “I want to get the review, and I’ve got every confidence Mr. Cowdell has been doing a very thorough job. It’s a big task to do.”

Trevena cancelled construction on a 10-lane, $3.5-billion, Massey replacement bridge project in September. That bridge across the South Arm of the Fraser River was proposed by the previous Liberal government to replace the seismically unsafe tunnel and to clear massive traffic jams that affect commuters daily in and around the crossing. But the NDP cited opposition from some local mayors as justification to scrap the project and go back to the drawing board.