Overnight closures of George Massey Tunnel planned for this weekend
Heads up, if you’re a Metro Vancouver driver who travels through the George Massey Tunnel, there’s going to be some impacts to your commute this weekend.
According to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit, there will be two full overnight closures, one tonight and another tomorrow.
The ministry says that on Friday, June 5, the tunnel will be closed starting at 10 p.m. until Saturday, June 6, at 4:30 a.m.
Then, on Saturday, the tunnel will be closed from 10 p.m. to Sunday, June 7, at 4:30 a.m.
According to the ministry, the closures are due to maintenance work.
“The overnight shutdown of the tunnel is required as the Ministry of Transportation and Transit’s contractor performs essential maintenance on the tunnel in both northbound and southbound directions,” the ministry adds.
Both the northbound and southbound lanes will be closed in both directions, and the ministry advises drivers to plan for an alternate route, naming the Alex Fraser Bridge.
Emergency services and transit vehicles will be “accommodated” during the closure, the ministry says.
Residents are still waiting for the overhaul of the George Massey Tunnel.
Early construction work began this year, and the new eight-lane toll-free tunnel has a target opening date of 2030.
“Highway 99 is a key connection for communities on both sides of the Fraser River and a vital trade route. Opened in 1959 as a vehicle-only crossing, the four-lane George Massey Tunnel no longer meets the region’s needs or modern seismic standards. Highway sections at both ends of the tunnel require upgrades to improve safety and traffic flow for vehicles, transit users, pedestrians and cyclists,” the B.C. government states.
A similar closure took place in January of this year, and the ministry said it was for ongoing preparations for construction of the new tunnel.”
Drivers are encouraged to check DriveBC for the latest updates relating to the closure and for the most up-to-date traffic information.
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