To the Editor,
I will be watching closely on the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District’s study about a second highway route into the Alberni Valley.
I do not want to hear about the Horne Lake route.
Why?
The B.C. government did a detailed essential study on this route and came to the conclusion that this route will never be built due to cost.
The report did suggest that if the coal mining industry in the Comox Valley ever started up again, the government would build the Horne Lake route.
Why?
Trucks would haul coal from the mine site, on to the Horne Lake route and into the Port Alberni harbour for ship loading.
The most sensible and cost efficient second highway route would be to seal coat the existing logging road from the junction at Bamfield to Youbou. Presently the road is being seal coated from Port Alberni to Bamfield.
The logging road from Lake Cowichan to Port Renfrew has been seal coated and is used extensively. Logging trucks use the road too.This section could be improved just like the section was done from Port Alberni to Bamfield.
A seal coated highway is better than nothing. The road does not have to be a road that you can drive 80 kilometres per hour on. The Horne Lake route is history unless coal mining begins again in the Comox Valley.
Joe Sawchuk,
Duncan
