LUU!

ve 95 1975

MEMO TO: Mayor and Aldermen . August Oth, 1975

FROM: Alderman G.R. Laking

Re: Centre Pylon — New Coquitlam River Bridge

The pylon in the centre of the new Coquitlam River Bridge will only
be another factor in the collection of debris when the high water comes. As
this has happened twice in the past — in 1921 when both the railroad bridge
and the traffic bridge were washed away - and in 1955 (and in 1966) when
there was debris piled up for three-quarters of a mile behind the Red Bridge;
the difference being that in these past floods since 1921 debris piling against
the Red Bridge area has been in a low, broad area with very little development
and fortunately no great loss to the people involved was caused by fiooding.
With the new Highway Bridge, should debris back up the flooding can only
proceed in two ways ~ East or West of the Coquitlam River into areas which are
now highly developed and there could be a major loss to residents through flood
damage.

I would move:

. "That this Council unanimously go on record in requesting the Government
to immediately remove the pylon and place an open span on the bridge over the
Coquitlam River as the present spans are."

I would further move:

"That we meet with the local representatives of the Coquitlam &
District Hunting & Fishing Club, the B. C. Wildlife Federation, and the
Department of Fisheries and work out a timing as quickly as possible when we
can go in and clear the growth from the main channel of the River in the Port

Coquitlam area north of the Highway bridge."