THE next phase of highway widening through Langley this summer will provide relief for traffic congestion in the Fraser Valley.
High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes will be added, along with a new 232nd Street interchange as part of the Province’s Fraser Valley Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Program.
“We’re set to start major construction this summer to widen Highway 1 between 216th and 264th streets and upgrade another essential crossing at 232nd Street,” said Rob Fleming, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, on Thursday. “This is important progress in our plans to improve and widen Highway 1 through to Chilliwack, so we can improve travel and transit services for people in the Fraser Valley.”
With utilities relocated and other preliminary work complete, construction will begin this summer to widen approximately 10 kilometres of Highway 1. The wider highway will accommodate eastbound and westbound HOV and electric vehicle (EV) lanes in the median lane between the 216th Street and 264th Street interchanges.
“The work to widen Highway 1 and improve key crossings is of vital importance not only for motorized vehicles, but also for community members,” said Sean Fraser, federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “The new Glover Road crossing and other improvements will facilitate safer, more efficient commutes for folks travelling through the area, whether that be by car, bus, bike or on foot. I’m proud to celebrate the progress we’ve made and look forward to the work to come, which will further support the needs of our growing community.”
A $140-million contract for the highway expansion and construction of new 232nd Street interchange work has been awarded to Hall Jacob JV (a BD Hall Constructors Corp., Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. joint venture).
This section of Highway 1 is at capacity during peak periods. The addition of new HOV lanes in each direction, coupled with a more efficient 232nd Street interchange, will ease congestion and create faster, smoother travel through the Fraser Valley.
The new 232nd Street interchange will have improved accessibility and better connect communities on either side of the highway. The reconfigured crossing will include three-metre-wide multi-use pathways in both directions and increased height clearance.
Work is almost complete on the new Glover Road crossing, another important part of the 216th-264th portion of the Fraser Valley Highway 1 improvements. A wider, higher Glover Road crossing over Highway 1 will open in the coming days, restoring this important route for Township of Langley residents and providing a safer crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.
“It is fantastic to see the new Glover Road crossing reopening. It is so important for people who live and work in our community, making it easier and faster for area residents to get around,” said Megan Dykeman, MLA for Langley East. “Thank you to everyone for their patience while this new and much-improved crossing was built and thank you to all who worked as quickly as possible to complete this much-needed project for our community.”
The Highway 1 216th to 264th Street Widening Project is valued at $345 million. The Government of Canada is contributing as much as $96.05 million to this project through the New Building Canada Fund, with the remainder of funding from the Province of B.C.
Learn More:
Information about the Fraser Valley Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Program is available online:
https://www.gov.bc.ca/fraser-
