New four-lane Holdom Avenue overpass in Burnaby to open in Spring 2027 | Daily Hive

October 2026 construction progress on the new Holdom Avenue Overpass in Burnaby. (Vancouver Fraser Port Authority)

The new Holdom Avenue overpass is scheduled to open in Spring 2027, providing a new fully grade-separated north-south major roadway across the railway tracks at the eastern edge of Burnaby’s Brentwood district — eliminating the need to wait for passing freight, VIA Rail, and Amtrak trains at the nearby Douglas Road crossing.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority told Daily Hive Urbanized that the overpass is on target to open to vehicle traffic in Spring 2027, with all remaining aspects of construction reaching completion in Fall 2027.

Construction first began in December 2024, and the port authority previously shared in August 2026 that work was more than halfway complete, with the overpass superstructure finished. This viaduct project is being built by Aecon-Gateway Infrastructure Group Partnership.

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This overpass with four vehicle lanes — two lanes in each direction — will extend Holdom Avenue south across the busy trunk railway corridor and Still Creek to connect with Douglas Road. There will also be intersection changes and an extension of Goring Street to Kingsland Drive.

Once the overpass is operational, the existing street-level Douglas Road railway crossing will close to all users. This full grade separation of vehicle traffic from trains is expected to greatly reduce congestion and idling, make trips through the area more predictable, improve safety, and enable emergency vehicles to get through without being held up by very long trains, which have grown considerably in length in recent decades.

The overpass will also change where trucks travel through the area. During its June 2026 public meeting, TransLink’s board of directors approved removing the formal truck route designation from Douglas Road between Norland Avenue and Lougheed Highway, conditional on designating the corresponding Holdom Avenue corridor as a truck route once the overpass project is completed. This will accommodate the permanent closure of the Douglas Road railway crossing while providing trucks with an alternative requiring minimal detouring.

holdom overpass burnaby construction september 2026

September 2026 construction progress on the new Holdom Avenue Overpass in Burnaby. (Vancouver Fraser Port Authority)

Furthermore, the overpass will also improve access and increase capacity for freight trains using the three-km-long Thornton Tunnel, which has its southern entrance just to the west of the overpass, near Willingdon Avenue. The tunnel’s northern end immediately transitions into the Second Narrows Rail Bridge — the only rail connection for transporting goods and commodities to and from the port terminals in North Vancouver, and a vital link in national supply chains connecting products such as grain and fertilizer to global markets.

According to the port authority, the railway corridor between the North Shore and Brentwood moves over 40 million metric tonnes of export cargo, accounting for over 40 per cent of the port’s total international exports in 2023.

As a result, the port authority anticipates the overpass will increase trade capacity by nearly 15 per cent at the Port of Vancouver’s North Shore terminals. As well, there will also be an improvement to the rail capacity serving the Port of Vancouver terminals on the south side of Burrard Inlet in Vancouver.

Holdon Avenue overpass design. (Vancouver Fraser Port Authority)

As construction approaches the final stages, the project has received Envision Platinum — the highest sustainability rating awarded by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, which is based in Washington, D.C. This follows an assessment of the project’s environmental performance, community benefits, use of resources, leadership, and resilience to climate change.

Measures contributing to the designation include replacing invasive plants with native vegetation, creating roosting structures for bats, protecting waterways, and improving walking and cycling connections. New public spaces will also feature First Nations art.

The construction team is participating in a program to reuse and recycle plastic waste. According to Aecon, approximately 84 per cent of the project’s construction waste has been kept out of landfills.

The overpass is part of the broader Burnaby Rail Corridor Improvements Project, which supports freight movements to North Vancouver’s port terminals. CN completed the railway portion in 2022, including improvements to the Thornton Tunnel’s ventilation and an additional track between Willingdon Avenue and Piper Avenue.

“The Envision Platinum award builds on our proven track record of delivering high-quality, sustainable infrastructure that supports Canada’s trade needs while creating lasting benefits for communities and the environment,” said Jennifer Natland, the vice president of properties and development for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, in a statement.

Steven MacKinnon, the federal minister of transport, added, “This Envision Platinum designation recognizes the project’s commitment to sustainability, safety, and community well-being. By investing in modern transportation infrastructure, we are strengthening Canada’s supply chains, supporting economic growth, and creating lasting benefits for the people and businesses that rely on this important trade corridor.”

The project carries a total cost of about $200 million, which is jointly funded by the federal government, the port authority, and CN. Although the port authority spearheaded the project and is overseeing construction, the City of Burnaby will own and maintain the overpass once it is completed.

Holdon Avenue overpass design. (Vancouver Fraser Port Authority)

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