Construction begins on new Highway 11 interchange on Trans-Canada Highway | Daily Hive

Existing condition of the Highway 11 interchange at Highway 1 in Abbotsford. (Government of BC)

Travel through the eastern areas of the Lower Mainland is expected to become faster, safer and more reliable, following the awarding of the design-build contract for the new Highway 11 (Sumas Way) interchange project on Highway 1 in Abbotsford.

Drivers on this arterial corridor will have to endure some more short-term pain for long-term gain, as major construction is now anticipated for the interchange and as work continues to progressively widen Highway 1 from eastern Metro Vancouver into the Fraser Valley.

The interchange project, part of the overall Fraser Valley Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Program, aims to reduce congestion on the Trans-Canada Highway, improve commuter travel times and support efficient goods movement through one of British Columbia’s busiest transportation corridors. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2026.

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“We know people in the Fraser Valley find travel increasingly difficult, given the traffic volume on Highway 1,” said Mike Farnworth, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Transit, in a statement.

“The upgrades we’re making to Highway 11 will not only reduce bottlenecks but also improve transit and active forms of transportation, making it easier for everyone to reach their destinations. That means less time on the road and more time families can spend with each other.”

This section of Highway 1 through Abbotsford sees about 80,000 vehicles per day on average.

Highway 11’s interchange with the Trans-Canada Highway is also unique for its high freight truck and general vehicle traffic volumes reaching the area’s Canada-U.S. border crossing via Highway 11, with more capacity needed to meet current and future demand.

The $242-million contract has been awarded to Metro Vancouver (Infrastructure) Partnership, a joint venture between Hall Constructors, Jacob Bros. and EBC Inc. The work entails replacing the Highway 1 and Highway 11 interchange to accommodate a widened highway and growing traffic volumes. Planned improvements also include widening 2.1 kilometres of Highway 1 from McKenzie Road to just east of the Highway 11 interchange, adding new high-occupancy vehicle and electric vehicle lanes, and introducing bus-on-shoulder lanes to improve transit reliability. The project also includes replacing the Riverside Road and rail overpass.

In addition to roadway upgrades, the project will deliver new truck parking and improved active transportation infrastructure. Intersections at Highway 11 and Marshall Road, as well as Highway 11 and Delair Road, will be upgraded, while new multi-use paths, sidewalks and bike lanes will enhance mobility for cyclists and pedestrians.

Future Highway 1 East of 264th Street Fraser Valley

Design of the future Highway 1 widening east of the 264th Street interchange (Phase 3A). (Government of BC)

Design concept for the widened Highway 1 segment between Mt. Lehman Road interchange and Highway 11 interchange (Phase 3B). (Government of BC)

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens welcomed the start of construction, citing Abbotsford’s strategic importance within regional and international transportation networks.

“As the hub of the Fraser Valley and a key link in the North American Asia-Pacific Gateway, being able to move through and around our city is vital,” said Siemens, adding that “our community relies on safe and efficient corridors to keep people and goods moving. The City of Abbotsford is pleased to see the Highway 11 Interchange Project moving forward, strengthening this critical route.”

The Highway 11 Interchange Project is part of Phase 3B of the Highway 1 widening program within the Lower Mainland, supported by $2.65 billion in provincial funding. The eight-kilometre Highway 1 widening project between the Mount Lehman Road interchange and the Highway 11 interchange is expected to be completed in 2031. This section of Highway 1 currently has four vehicle lanes — two in each direction. Once complete, the corridor will be widened to as many as nine lanes, with five westbound lanes and four eastbound lanes. The upgraded highway segment will include two general-purpose lanes in each direction, as well as a truck climbing lane, a shoulder bus lane and a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction.

Two additional major construction contracts under Phase 3B are anticipated to be awarded in early 2026, with further construction updates to follow.

highway 1 langley abbotsford fraser valley

Highway 1 improvement project between eastern Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. (Government of BC)

There is also a longer-term plan to continue widening Highway 1 farther into the Fraser Valley, between the Highway 11 interchange and the Vedder Canal in Chilliwack. However, this future Phase 4 widening project will require additional technical planning and is expected to come at a significantly higher cost, as it would involve not only expanding the highway over 18 km — complete with new interchanges — but also making the corridor far more resilient to flooding.

Phase 4 runs through the Sumas First Nation reserve and the expansive low-lying Sumas Prairie — an area that experienced major transportation disruptions during the floods of 2021 and 2025, underscoring the need for enhanced flood protection as part of any future expansion.

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