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For The Record

THE FACTS ON THE GATEWAY PROGRAM

Nov. 17, 2009
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
 

The $3-billion Gateway Program offers a balanced approach to improving transportation infrastructure that is socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

The Gateway Program is divided into 3 projects:

  • Port Mann/Highway 1
  • North Fraser Perimeter Road, which includes the Pitt River Bridge/Mary Hill Interchange
  • South Fraser Perimeter Road. 

The goals for the Gateway Program are to:

  • Address congestion. Congestion now costs the economy up to $1.5 billion per year. 
  • Improve the movement of people and goods in and through the region;
  • Improve access to key economic gateways through improved links between ports, industrial areas, railways, the airport and border crossings;
  • Improve safety and reliability;
  • Improve the region’s road network;
  • Improve quality of life in communities by keeping regional traffic on regional roads instead of local streets;
  • Reduce vehicle emissions by reducing congestion-related idling;
  • Facilitate better connections to buses and SkyTrain, cycling and pedestrian networks;
  • Reduce travel times along and across the Fraser River during peak periods.

Port Mann/Highway 1:

  • This bridge is the most important corridor in western Canada for goods movement. Congestion on the current Port Mann Bridge is approaching 14 hours a day.
  • The Port Mann/ Highway 1 project includes facilities to reintroduce transit service over the Port Mann Bridge, as well as HOV use, cycling and the facilities to accommodate light rapid transit. 
  • The Port Mann Highway 1 project includes widening the highway, building a new bridge at the Port Mann crossing, upgrading interchanges and improving access and safety from McGill Street in Vancouver to 216th Street in Langley, a distance of approximately 37 kilometres.
  • Highway improvements also include adding one lane in each direction west of the Port Mann Bridge, and two lanes in each direction east of the Port Mann Bridge, one of which is an HOV lane.
  • The new Port Mann bridge will be tolled to pay for the project, reduce congestion and moderate traffic growth over time, extending the life of the improvements. The province will set toll rates and ensure compliance with provincial tolling guidelines.
  • A fixed price design-build contract was awarded to Kiewit/Flatiron General Partnership in March 2009.  Early construction began in summer 2008.  The project is currently underway, with construction completion planned for 2013, after which the existing bridge will be removed.

Rapid Bus Service

  • Current congestion prevents any buses from travelling over the Port Mann Bridge. 
  • The PMH1 improvements will result in reliable transit service crossing the bridge for the first time in 20 years, as well as expanded networks for HOV, cyclists and pedestrians.
  • As part of this new transit service, the government and TransLink have committed to provide a Highway 1 RapidBus service, with frequent express bus service between Lougheed Town Centre Skytrain station in Burnaby and Walnut Grove in Langley in less than 25 minutes.
  • Of the $180 million estimated cost for the project, government is contributing $150 million and TransLink is contributing $30 million.   
  • This express service means more people can leave their cars at home and commute via bus between Langley, Surrey and Burnaby with few stops.  
  • Buses will run every 10 to 15 minutes during peak periods.
  • The project will also provide for additional new routes between Langley, Surrey, Coquitlam and Burnaby – with quick and efficient links to the existing Skytrain network.  

North Fraser Perimeter Road

  • The North Fraser Perimeter Road Project is a proposed set of improvements on existing roads to provide an efficient, continuous route from New Westminster to Maple Ridge.
  • TransLink is responsible for the section through New Westminster, while the Ministry is responsible for the segments from King Edward Avenue (Coquitlam) to Maple Ridge. Proposed upgrades will improve safety and reliability along this key goods movement corridor to better serve these growing communities.
  • Current funding provides for improvements to Highway 7 (Lougheed Highway) in Pitt Meadows. This work will provide an additional westbound lane from Golden Ears Way to Harris Road to accommodate RapidBus service. Intersection improvements are also planned for the Highway 7/Kennedy Road Intersection where bus priority measures will be implemented.

The Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange

  • The provincial component of the North Fraser Perimeter Road includes a new seven-lane high level bridge across the Pitt River, replacing the two existing swing bridges and a new interchange at the Lougheed Highway and the Mary Hill Interchange.
  • Construction started in February 2007 on the new Pitt River Bridge.  The bridge structure was opened to traffic October 2009, replacing the two existing swing bridges.  The original (southern) span of the bridge was built in 1956.  The second (northern) span was built in 1978.
  • Traffic over the Pitt River Bridge has almost tripled since 1985. 
  • It is expected to further increase with the recent opening of TransLink’s Golden Ears Bridge.
  • The Province is providing $108 million for the construction of the $198-million Pitt River Bridge/Mary Hill Interchange. The federal Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative is providing $90 million.
  • The design for the bridge and interchange incorporates more than $8.5 million in pedestrian and cycling features, including bike lanes across the bridge.  As well, the bridge will be engineered to accept light rail transit at a later date.  

South Fraser Perimeter Road:

  • The SFPR is a new four-lane, 80 km/h route along the south side of the Fraser River extending from Deltaport Way in southwest Delta to the Golden Ears Bridge and Highway 1 on the Surrey/Langley border.
  • The SFPR will provide a needed, continuous and efficient route to serve the important freight and service industry along this key economic corridor. The Provincial government is providing over $600 million towards the $1 billion project, with the federal government funding the remainder.
  • Construction will begin in 2008 and is expected to finish in 2013.