Canada Day post-fireworks crowds fill street outside Waterfront Station (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Jul 2 2018, 2:03 pm

Tens of thousands of people streamed into Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver late this evening shortly after the conclusion of the fireworks at Canada Day at Canada Place.

But despite the sight of surreal-sized lines on the roadway outside the station hub on West Cordova Street, the egress process was significantly more organized and orderly than previous years.

And these lines, a new addition for 2018, moved relatively quickly.

Canada Day Canada Place crowds fireworks Waterfront Station

Lines on West Cordova Street into Waterfront Station after the Canada Day at Canada Place 2018 fireworks in downtown Vancouver. (Gabriel Lam)

This year, TransLink and police created three different queues on the roadway for the Canada Line, Expo Line, and SeaBus.

Each queue was identified by clear overhead signage and separated by fencing, and there were also attendants and other staff on hand holding signage to help direct the crowds.

Spectators were also being asked to consider taking a short walk to Granville Station, Burrard Station, and Vancouver City Centre Station instead as the lines at these stations were small.

During previous years, a large, disorganized post-fireworks crowd would form outside the Howe Street entrance into Waterfront Station, creating a huge bottleneck not only into this particular station entrance but also on the roadway for those heading further south. However, this entrance was completely closed tonight after 6 pm, and the crowds were instead directed to use the main entrance on West Cordova.

According to Transit Police, the organized lines on West Cordova Street into Waterfront Station completely dissipated at approximately midnight – just slightly over an hour after the conclusion of the fireworks.

No major issues have been reported throughout the day at the festivities in downtown Vancouver.

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