Work on two new overpasses at the 232 and 264 St. crossings on Hwy. 1 through Langley has achieved “key project milestones” according to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
In response to a Langley Advance Times query, a ministry update on the new interchanges said now that new bridge girders have been installed at both interchanges, the construction crane at the 232 S. crossing will be coming down “soon” and work on the new bridge decks “will be ongoing at both locations throughout the summer.”
New traffic signals were being installed on the 232 St. crossing fir drivers wanting to travel eastbound on Hwy. 1 from 232 St. to turn left onto the highway on-ramp.
Work on 232 was expected to be completed by 2028.
At the 264 St. crossing the existing cloverleaf interchange will become B.C.’s first diverging diamond interchange, “a design that improves safety and flow by reducing conflict points, enabling easier, free-flowing turns.” The ministry said.
Plans include a park-and-ride, a bus loop and vehicle parking for more than 180 passenger vehicles.
Work is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
This phase of the Fraser Valley Highway 1 corridor improvement program, between 216 and 264 Streets includes more than 57 kilometres of new high-occupancy and electric vehicle lanes, 36-plus km. of new bus-on-shoulder lanes, and seven km. of new truck climbing lanes to support slower-moving vehicles.
“Upgrades to the highway through the Fraser Valley will keep goods moving smoothly while making it faster and easier for people to get to and from work so they can spend more time with their families,” the ministry said.
Both the 232 and 264 crossing will have better clearance than the bridges they replace, meeting a new 5.2-metre height standard that is hoped will reduce the number of overpass strikes.
As well, the CPKC Railway Crossing east of Glover Road is also set to be replaced to increase clearance over the highway. It is current in the design stage, and is expected to be finished by 2029.