Gateway Program opponents will be holding a “creative … symbolic action” Sunday in Surrey.

The action, which coincides with cross-country climate change protests, is designed to “illustrate our demand for better transit service, instead of destructive freeways, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” the groups sponsoring the protest say.

Eric Doherty, a spokesperson for the Livable Region Coalition, declined to say what sort of action the groups have planned.

He said the protest is being held at 126A Street and King George Highway in Surrey, near the Scott Road SkyTrain station, to highlight the threat the Gateway Program poses to the Bridgeview neighbourhood.

Doherty said Bridgeview, a low-lying, low-income neighbourhood, faces a number of disruptions from Gateway. A freeway that is part of the project will cut off the neighbourhood’s waterfront access and go right by its elmentary school, he said.

As well, there is the question of flooding.

“Immediately, people are concerned about the flooding from construction,” he said. “But in 30 years or so … with the sea level rise, the neighbourhood is going to be at risk of major flooding.”

Tom Barrett is a contributing editor at The Tyee.