In a sharply worded letter to TRAN:EX, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s highways department, Area A Director Garry Jackman has outlined his objections to work planned for the Kootenay Lake Ferry terminal at Balfour.
“Once again, I cannot stress enough to you how much of a mistake MOTI is making with its short-term, politically motivated choice to spend funds to build a bigger parking lot and not invest in true, significant improvements to the southern BC transportation corridor at the Kootenay Lake ferry crossing,” Jackman wrote last week. “ Read the news and look once again at how our southern BC corridor is bottlenecked.
“Quite seriously, tell me straight up if you do not agree that the project put into motion today is short-sighted. Please have the courage to tell Treasury Board. Eventually, the Balfour terminal will be moved to Queens Bay, the fuel savings and environmental benefits will be recognized, the increased capacity will be appreciated by all who use this transportation corridor, the dredging, and marine safety issues will be resolved and there will be a net cost savings. Look at Drive BC tonight and then begin action to implement the correct long-term solution now, as has been recommended through your detailed engineering studies.”
Before the last provincial election, the highways department walked away from its interest in building a new ferry terminal at Queens Bay, which would cut the crossing time by more than a third and eliminate the need to dredge the lake bottom near the Balfour terminal. Public opposition, primarily from businesses at Kootenay Bay and property owners at Queens Bay, was vociferous. The NDP government has apparently also shied away from making the route change recommended by its own engineers.
MV Osprey is pulled out of service each spring for maintenance, timed to coincide with low water levels in Kootenay Lake. During that period, the older, smaller MV Balfour is the sole ferry operating, but it sits higher in the water and is unaffected by the low lake level.
Tom Lymbery, owner of Gray Creek Store on the East Shore is also an advocate of changing the ferry route. In April he wrote to the Advance with an update of what was happening with the ferry service.
“The updates on the MV Osprey have apparently been completed but parking lot staff are telling us that the Osprey will wait until the lake rises before going back in service.
“Even though tractor trailers and other traffic are being discouraged from taking the snow-free ferry route, backups at Kootenay Bay can reach more than two loads for the 28-car MV Balfour, which has weight restrictions so one loaded tractor-trailer allows less than a full load of cars. As well, RV traffic comes with the spring!
“This is a very late spring and it is quite possible the lake will not start to rise until after May 1st or even later. Perhaps MOTI is doing this to demonstrate that keeping the terminal at Balfour will not be possible?”