As of Monday, June 24, those moving through Langley on the Trans-Canada Highway can expect more than the typical commuter delays as construction started to widen the highway from 216 to 256 Streets.
Overnight lane closures will be in effect eastbound between 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Mondays to Fridays, and until 7 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Going westbound, lane closures will be in effect between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. Mondays to Fridays, and until 8 a.m. on weekends.
A construction speed limit of 80km per hour is in place during those times in those areas.
The closures will be in effect until further notice, advises a provincial notice.
Plans of the construction were announced on May 23 in Langley, and include an upgrade to the overpass crossing at 232 Street.
“We’re set to start major construction this summer to widen Highway 1 between 216 and 264 Streets and upgrade another essential crossing at 232 Street," said Rob Fleming, B.C. minister of transportation and infrastructure.
The new interchange will also stand one metre taller for commercial trucks, 5.2 metres tall in total, to reduce instances of collisions by over-height trucks, Fleming added.
“We are also pursuing active transportation, cycling, and pedestrian traffic… [which] will include three metre wide multi-use pathways on each side of the interchange so that this crossing becomes more than just a conduit for vehicles, but it’s safe for people and cyclists to use it.”
The project will widen approximately 10 kilometres of Highway 1 between 216 and 264 Streets, adding eastbound and westbound HOV lanes, which Fleming said will allow for better bus commutes.
A $140 million contract for the highway expansion and construction of new 232 Street interchange work has been awarded to a joint venture between BD Hall Constructors Corp. and Jacob Brothers Construction Inc.
This widening is the next phase in a series of widening projects that are planned to head out through Abbotsford.
This phase of highway widening, out to 264th Street, will cost $345 million, and includes funding of $96.05 million from the federal government.
The project was originally announced in 2017, when the estimated cost was $235.5 million.
Fleming also announced a third phase of the program to widen the highway out to Chilliwack.
