Busy long weekend in Metro Vancouver will bring traffic delays
Labour Day weekend is upon us, and while many Metro Vancouver residents are packing up to savour these few days off before school starts, they should brace themselves for some traffic delays.
The chaos on the roads kicked off early Friday morning, due to a major accident along Highway 1 in Chilliwack involving a semi-truck that struck a guardrail.
DriveBC reported the incident at 7:38 a.m., stating that Highway 1 was closed in both directions east of Annis Road in Chilliwack due to a vehicle incident. In a later update, DriveBC confirmed that the eastbound lanes have been reopened.
⛔️UPDATE – Eastbound has been reopened. Westbound remains CLOSED. Continue to watch for traffic control. #BCHwy1 #Chilliwackhttps://t.co/8LPItwz3bl
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) August 29, 2025
Those hoping to catch a ferry to Vancouver Island should note that the Labour Day weekend is the second busiest long weekend of the year for BC Ferries.
On its website, the ferry operator said it is anticipating 30 per cent more vehicles and 50 per cent more passengers on its vessels compared to a non-holiday weekend in September.
Reservations are highly encouraged, and passengers without pre-booking arrangements should expect sailing delays.
BC Ferries has more long weekend travel tips online and has provided information about when its services are expected to be the busiest over the next few days.
BC Ferries
For those using the Hullo Ferries service, some Friday cancellations have impacted the 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. sailings from Vancouver to Nainamo.
As the weekend rolls on, folks should be aware of a number of community events that will likely impact traffic.
The popular annual TAIWANfest will be taking place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at several locations in Downtown Vancouver, including šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square, Granville Street, the Annex, Wilms Salon, and more.
The last Gastown Sunday Set will be on Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Water Street.
Car-Free Day will take over Edmonds Street in Burnaby on Sunday, Aug. 31, from noon to 5 p.m.
The Vancouver Triathlon is back on Sept.1, bringing world-class athletes to the city.
Triathlon BC
According to the Vancouver Park Board, road closures will be in place in part of the West End as well as throughout the park.
The Georgia Street lane will close from Denman to the entrance of Stanley Park from 6:30 to 11 a.m.
All roads throughout Stanley Park will also close for the Vancouver Triathlon from 6:30 to 11 a.m., though the seawall will remain open.
Athlete check-in and chip pickup begin at 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 1, and the awards presentation is slated to start at 12:30 p.m.
Good weather is in the forecast for the long weekend as well, meaning folks will be out and about, headed to beaches and parks around the region.
So be sure to pack your patience and check DriveBC for the latest road updates, as the Labour Day long weekend will surely come along with traffic and a busy commute.
With files from Daniel Chai