Granville Station's 2-year-long escalator shutdown begins this Saturday

Construction begins Saturday on Vancouver’s longest and most famous escalators, as they’re set to be replaced through a major upgrade project.

Announced earlier in May, TransLink revealed that the long escalators at the Granville Street entrance of Granville Station will be completely removed and rebuilt.

Do you use #SkyTrain‘s Granville Station? Escalator replacements begins on May 26! Learn more at https://t.co/DP7jezGGJU and watch this video. 👇 ^at pic.twitter.com/FF8QTwgrFe

— TransLink BC (@TransLink) May 25, 2018

Due to space constraints and being in a tight location, private contractors will need to perform the installation piece-by-piece.

The upgrade, however, is a much-needed overhaul for the now 32-year-old escalator. The 46-ft tall escalators see approximately 30,000 people in a single weekday.

The original, main escalators at SkyTrain’s Granville Station from the Granville Street entrance. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

Three shorter escalators, which link the concourse and platform areas, will also need to be replaced due to wear and tear. In total, six escalators will be replaced over the course of the project.

The main escalators and the Seymour Street entrance into the station will be closed until further notice.

Passengers will be able to enter the station via the Dunsmuir Street entrance, however, public transit authority warns that if multiple escalators at the Dunsmuir Street entrance stop running, the entire station could be closed for public safety.

The Dunsmuir Street entrance into SkyTrain’s Granville Station. (Google Maps Streetview)

The 2006-built escalators at SkyTrain’s Granville Station from the newer Dunsmuir Street entrance. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

Translink has advised riders to consider using the Burrard Station and Stadium-Chinatown Station, both of which are within walking distance.

For more information, you can read the original story here.

With files from Kenneth Chan 

See also

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