BC Conservatives promise to build 10-lane George Massey Bridge and cancel NDP tunnel plan
Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson announced on October 15 that his party would cancel the BC NDP's $8.5 billion immersed tunnel and revive a 10-lane bridge to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel.
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The Conservative Party of BC announced on October 15 that it would cancel the BC NDP's $8.5 billion immersed tunnel project and build a 10-lane bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel on Highway 99.
Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson made the commitment at an event in Surrey, according to Daily Hive Vancouver, which reported that the party would revive the bridge plan first approved under the BC Liberal government in 2017. "Families in the Lower Mainland are stuck in traffic every day because the NDP cancelled a bridge that should already be open. My government will build it, on time and on budget," Doerkson said.
What the Conservatives are committing to
The Conservative commitment is for a 10-lane bridge, compared with the NDP's current plan for an 8-lane immersed tube tunnel. The party says a bridge would cut commute times by up to 30 minutes for regular drivers on the corridor and improve freight movement.
The party did not release an updated cost estimate. The original 2017 bridge estimate was $3.5 billion. One contractor submitted a bid of $2.6 billion in 2017. Both figures are from nearly a decade ago and do not reflect current construction costs.
What the NDP has been building
The NDP's current tunnel project carries an estimated price of $8.5 billion, an increase from the initial estimate of $4.15 billion. Site preparation work began in January 2026. The NDP's targeted completion date is September 2031. The tunnel would be toll-free.
The NDP cancelled the original bridge project shortly after forming government in 2017, citing concerns about cost, the lack of a rapid transit component, and the project's design. The replacement tunnel was chosen after several years of study.
What a voter can do
Voting day is October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to 21. Visit Elections BC to find your voting place and check your registration before the start of advance voting on Friday.
Questions this story answers
What did Lorne Doerkson announce on October 15?
Doerkson, leader of the Conservative Party of BC, announced that a Conservative government would build a 10-lane bridge to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel on Highway 99 between Richmond and Delta. The party says it would cancel the BC NDP's current plan and revive a bridge project that was first approved under the BC Liberal government in 2017. The announcement was reported by Daily Hive Vancouver on October 15, 2026.
What is the current NDP plan for the George Massey Tunnel?
The BC NDP government is building an 8-lane immersed tube tunnel to replace the tunnel. The current cost estimate for the NDP's project is $8.5 billion, up from an initial estimate of $4.15 billion. Site preparation work began in January 2026, and the NDP's targeted completion date is September 2031. The tunnel would be toll-free under the NDP plan.
How much would the Conservative bridge cost?
The Conservatives did not release an updated cost estimate on October 15. The original 2017 estimate for the bridge under the BC Liberal government was $3.5 billion. One contractor bid in 2017 came in at $2.6 billion. Those figures are nearly a decade old and do not account for construction cost increases since then. The Conservatives say they would build it 'on time and on budget' but did not name a figure or timeline.
Why did the NDP cancel the original bridge plan?
The BC NDP cancelled the 10-lane bridge project shortly after forming government in 2017. The NDP's stated reasons at the time included concerns about the project's cost, its impact on transit, and the lack of a light rail or rapid transit component. The NDP chose instead to study alternatives before settling on the immersed tunnel design.
Who is Lorne Doerkson?
Lorne Doerkson is the leader of the Conservative Party of BC and is running as the party's candidate in Cariboo-Chilcotin in the October 24, 2026 provincial election. He became leader of the party in 2025 after John Rustad stepped down. You can read his candidate page on this site at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson.
What is the George Massey Tunnel?
The George Massey Tunnel is a four-lane highway tunnel under the Fraser River on Highway 99, connecting Richmond and Delta in Metro Vancouver. It opened in 1959 and carries heavy commuter and commercial traffic. It has been described as one of the most congested chokepoints in British Columbia, and both the NDP and the Conservatives have promised to replace it, though they disagree on whether to build a bridge or a tunnel.
When is the BC provincial election?
The BC general election is on October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to 21, 2026. Polls open at 8 am and close at 8 pm Pacific time on voting day. You can find your voting place and check your registration at /bc/provincial-2026.
Where can I compare what the parties have promised on infrastructure?
Each party's platform commitments are summarised on their party pages on this site. The Conservative Party of BC page is at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/conservative-party-of-bc and the BC NDP page is at /bc/provincial-2026/parties/bc-ndp. Voting day is October 24, 2026.
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