Canada backs British Columbia's plan for new 10-lane Fraser River bridge

The federal government will back British Columbia's plan to replace the George Massey Tunnel with a new 10-lane bridge over the Fraser River. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon confirmed the position during a press conference in Delta on Friday, October 30, 2026. The announcement came alongside the designation of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 port expansion as a project of national interest.

Ottawa had previously committed up to $3 billion toward an eight-lane immersed tunnel under a July agreement between the federal and provincial governments. That tunnel project had been advanced by the former BC NDP administration before the recent provincial election.

“Let me just say we support crossing that river, whatever way the premier tells us to. How about that? And if the government of British Columbia says it wants to construct a bridge, we're for a bridge.”

Premier-elect Lorne Doerkson's Conservative government campaigned on scrapping the tunnel in favour of reviving a 10-lane bridge that the BC NDP had cancelled after taking office in 2017. Outgoing Premier David Eby criticized the bridge plan during the campaign, calling it lunacy and warning that federal funding could be lost.

MacKinnon said the funding would follow the crossing type chosen by the incoming administration. He stated that Ottawa supports building a bridge if that is what the province wants, and described the investment as nationally important for trade infrastructure and quality of life in the Lower Mainland.

The national interest designation for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 is intended to streamline permitting and approvals, potentially accelerating the port's operational timeline by up to four years. Federal officials say they are ready to work with Doerkson's government to complete the crossing as quickly as possible.