Major $245 million roadway upgrades coming to Surrey and Delta

Federal, provincial and local governments together announced the funding for significant road work in the Delta region. The Delta highways project includes five major improvements to roadway structures and the construction of an additional 15-kilometres of highway and interchange ramps.

In a release announcing the funding, it’s noted that the improvements along three interconnected gateway corridors will benefit communities by reducing congestion and boost Asia-Pacific trade opportunities. Once completed, the upgrades will increase capacity, efficiency and safety as truck and passenger traffic is expected to grow along the trade corridors and Deltaport – the Port of Vancouver’s largest container terminal located at Roberts Bank in Delta.

Construction is expected to start in 2017 and to be completed by 2021, generating $194 million in economic benefit and an estimated 745 direct construction jobs over the course of the project.

Under the funding agreement, the governments of Canada and British Columbia, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and the Tsawwassen First Nation are collectively contributing up to $245,176,671 towards the estimated costs of the Highway 91 to Highway 17 and Deltaport Way Corridor Improvement Project. Of this, the federal government will contribute up to a maximum of $81,671,139 for this project. The Government of British Columbia is contributing approximately $80,000,000. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is contributing $80,000,000 and the Tsawwassen First Nation is contributing $3,505,533.

The five projects include:

Highway 91/Nordel Way Interchange – Total estimated cost: $91,472,337

• Construction of two new two-lane off-ramps for Highway 91 traffic into Surrey;
• Construction of 4.9 kilometres in new acceleration and deceleration lanes;
• Construction of a two-lane overpass on Nordel Way for westbound traffic over Highway 91 that will parallel the existing overpass.

Highway 91 Connector /Nordel Way Intersection – Total estimated cost: $53,407,977

• Removal of the current signalized intersection that connects Nordel Way North and the Highway 91 Connector, as well as the construction of a new, grade separated intersection and overpass further north of the existing one;
• Construction of 3.2 kilometres in new lanes for access roads and ramps; and,
• Construction of a new intersection on Highway 91 Connector that features access-management improvements such as right in/right out turning lanes;
• Improved access to the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) weigh scale and Nordel overnight truck parking area.

Highway 91 Connector/Highway 17/River Road (Sunbury) Interchange – Total estimated cost: $82,230,931

• Construction of a new interchange replacing the existing traffic signal at Highway 17 and Highway 91 Connector;
• Removal of the signalized railway crossing on 96 street connection over the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) rail tracks;
• Construction of 5.6 kilometres in new lanes for ramps and municipal connector roads (multi-lane);
• Construction of three new overpass structures: Highway 91 Connector going over Highway 17, as well as eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 17 going over the BNSF Railway track.

Highway 17 at 80th Street (Tilbury) Intersection Upgrade – Total estimated cost: $4,686,227

• Replace a right turn with a westbound highway on-ramp.

Deltaport Way/27B Avenue Improvements – Total estimated cost: $13,379,199

• Widening and strengthening of current 2-lane roadway and optimizing for heavy vehicular traffic;
• Addition of 0.8 kilometres in new acceleration and deceleration lanes; and
• Addition of increased capacity through the construction a new direct, efficient and safe route to Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) industrial lands.