The $3.5bn George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project in Vancouver, Canada, is facing claims that it will lead to congestion as a result of growing population.

The project aims to construct a new ten-lane bridge over the Fraser River at Highway 99, a replacement of the original Massey Tunnel opened in 1959.

The project’s opponents claim that the bridge will lead to a disorganised urban expansion.

"Putting in a big new facility like this runs directly counter to all of those objectives [of] the city of Vancouver."

Metro Vancouver former manager of policy and planning was quoted by Worldhighways.com as saying: "Ever since we turned our back to freeways in the late 1960s, we’re not trying to build our way out of congestion.

"Putting in a big new facility like this runs directly counter to all of those objectives [of] the city of Vancouver, the city of Richmond and the other municipalities.

"New roads go up, with new traffic, and more congestion, and sooner or later you’re right back where you started from."

Around 80,000 vehicles pass through the Massey Tunnel, which in turn is leading to congestion.

Construction of the new bridge is likely to begin in 2017, and will be ready by 2022.

The road authorities are considering closing the original tunnel, due to its high maintenance costs. The tunnel does not meet the latest seismic requirements.

Once completed, the tunnel will be British Columbia’s longest bridge, and will feature separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians.

The provincial government opened consultation in mid-December, and will end on 28 January 2016.

Besides intending to raise funds for the project partly through tolls, it is looking at other funding partnerships.

The bridge will link primary gateways including Vancouver International Airport and many other border crossings with the US.