Major Metro Vancouver highway is closing an exit for seven weeks
Summer roadwork season isn’t quite done in Metro Vancouver, with a major highway project closing an exit for several weeks starting today.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit is advising drivers and commuters that southbound Exit 23 from Highway 99 to 80th Street will close beginning Wednesday, Sept. 17, for approximately seven weeks.
The closure is to facilitate work on the new 78th Street interchange, which is being constructed to support the 148-acre Parkwood Industrial Estates business park in Delta.
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“Exit 23 will remain closed for the duration of work. The Ministry of Transportation and Transit will advise if any further closures or extensions are needed,” said the Ministry in a release.
Google Maps
Drivers are still able to access Boundary Bay Industrial Park southbound from Highway 99 by taking Exit 20, as well as westbound by Ladner Trunk Road, during the closure period on the Metro Vancouver highway.
According to the City of Delta, the interchange will feature a new overpass at 78th Street, the relocation of Burns Drive, and new traffic circles at 80th Street and 88th Street, all designed to enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and increase access to Highway 99.
“This project is the culmination of years of work and planning, and we are excited to see Beedie begin construction on infrastructure that will have significant long-term benefits for our city,” said Mayor George V. Harvie in a previous release.
“Industrial capacity in the Lower Mainland is extremely limited, making Parkwood a much-needed addition. The project will create hundreds of construction jobs over the next few years and nearly 1,000 new permanent jobs in Delta. I look forward to seeing this project progress as we work to build the amenities necessary for our city’s future success.”
NorLand
Construction company NorLand also highlighted that the new interchange will alleviate traffic congestion at the Matthews Interchange and enhance infrastructure for Parkwood Industrial Estates.
“The Lower Mainland and Delta communities will benefit from increased local transportation connectivity and accessibility for residents and businesses in the area,” said NorLand on the project’s website.