Metro Vancouver's Busy Highway Faces Potential Christmas Delays Due to Lane Closures
A significant construction project in Metro Vancouver is temporarily disrupting traffic on a major highway, with potential delays for drivers. The City of Delta and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure have announced that lane closures will be in effect on Highway 99, impacting a busy stretch between Exit 20 and Exit 28.
These lane closures, scheduled to last until Christmas Day (December 25th), are part of ongoing roadwork aimed at enhancing the Parkwood Industrial Estates business park in Delta. The project involves a 3.6-kilometer section of the highway, where drivers are advised to expect delays and use caution.
The online resource DriveBC (https://www.drivebc.ca/delays) provides further details, recommending that general-purpose traffic utilize the middle and bus lanes temporarily during this period. This temporary measure is necessary to facilitate the construction work.
This isn't the first time the area has faced such disruptions. Just a few weeks ago, a different section of Highway 99 was closed for over a month (https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/highway-99-exit-closing-78th-street-interchange) while work was underway on the new 78th Street interchange. The City of Delta explains that this project will introduce a new overpass at 78th Street, relocate Burns Drive, and create new traffic circles at 80th Street and 88th Street.
The primary goal of these improvements is to enhance safety, optimize traffic flow, and provide better access to Highway 99. According to Beedie (https://78th.beedie.ca/), the 78th Street Interchange Project will significantly improve travel safety and efficiency on Highway 99, benefiting Delta's residents, local farmers, and reducing the traffic burden on the Matthews Interchange.
Construction is set to continue along Highway 99 in Delta, from approximately 78th Street to 88th Street. During this phase, traffic management and detour plans will be implemented on and around the highway, ensuring the safety of both workers and drivers.
Beedie estimates that the 78th Street Interchange Project will be completed next winter, bringing a much-needed improvement to the region's transportation infrastructure.
