For residents of Usk, access to the far side of their community has been a love-hate
relationship: the reaction ferry provides a sense of isolation but it is also a source of
inconvenience, particularly in winter when crossing is available only by air tram.

Ewan GM

v Mc
is throwing a

“Christmas PEI

and you're 5 Panty

x

and goes on until
SATURDAY

when SANTA wil
‘be here, from
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with
a gift bag for the kids
and a EREE picture
on Santa’s knee.

We have treats
(coffee, eggnog,
donuts etc.) for

everybody and

with every
PARTS and SERVICE
purchase you'll
receive a
complimentary
McEwan mug.

AND TO TOP IT
ALL OFF
we're giviINg away
c FREE poinsettia to
everyone 3
who test

drives

anew
GM Car or

Truck.

All at

McEwan GM the Bright Spot on Highway 16 West in Terrace
| io |

Times Change. Values Dont.

Your Chevrolet, GEO,
Pontiac, Buick and
GMC Dealer in Terrace

McEwan

\ The Bright Spot on Highway 16 W

Out of Town Customers
Call Collect

635-4941

D.L # 5893
y,

Terrace Review —— Wednesday, December 18, 1991 19

Bridge looks like —

best option for

access to

The Ministry of Highways is
Starting to get a clear idea of
what sort of access is going to
be feasible for the isolated west
side of the Skeena River east of
Terrace,

District highways manager
John Newhouse says he had a
meeting with Usk residents on
Nov. 27 to discuss a preliminary
report on their access problems.

The report suggests that there
is no road option for Usk. A
road approach to Usk from
either Kitselas or the Skeena
Cellulose St. Croix bridge is too
difficult due to the terrain and
road construction would be far
too expensive, says Newhouse.
Another problem with a road
connection is that it would pass
through avalanche areas in either
direction, and winter road clo-
sures of several days duration
could be a regular situation.

That leaves two options: im-
proving the existing reaction
ferry system, or building a

bridge over the Skeena. Accord-

ing to Newhouse, the report
indicates the two options would

-cost around the same, about $3

million. This, of course, makes
the bridge the most attractive
option.

Newhouse points out, however,
that the cost estimates were done
without actual engineering
studies and could change dra-
matically after further investiga-
tion.

Usk |

When it comes to a bridge,
though, Newhouse says some
Usk residents may not get too
excited. On the one hand, it
would give them easier 24 hour
access. But on the other it would
mean an end to the isolation
which, for many Usk residents,
was the prime reason for locat-
ing there. According to New-
house, there could be some
logging traffic as well as a num-
ber of previously unseen visi-
tors.

Another down side to the
bridge option, he adds, is that
the approach on the Usk side
would have to be elevated. An
exact measurement hasn’t been
made, but the river bank on the
Usk side is lower than on the
highway side and this would
mean. considerable earthwork
filling close to the centre of the
community. This, says New-
house, may not be acceptable to
some Usk residents.

As for Kitselas, Newhouse
says there is a long-term com-
mitment to upgrade the existing
vestigial road over a number of
years. He says right-of-way
problems still exist on the route
but that is being worked on.
Newhouse adds that Skeena
Cellulose has plans for about 15
to 20 years of logging in the
Kitselas area, and because of
that the ministries of highways
and forestry will work together
on the upgrade project.

Holiday Cheer!

from the staff and
management of The Back Eddy

a aus “handle
We'd like to take

nae this opportunity to
is thank you all for your

s patronage and to wish you

the very best for 1992)

The Back Eddy Pub |
4332 Lakelse Ave.,
Terrace, B.C.

phone 635-5336