The delays on Highway 10 in East Ladner will be around for a while.
Traffic is now diverted down 72nd and 80th streets due to a utility upgrade project on Ladner Trunk Road (Highway 10).
The engineering department notes that due to recent development activity in the area, mainly the industrial/commercial development on 88th Street, and the conversion of greenhouse vegetable production to cannabis, B.C. Hydro is constructing a concrete encased duct bank from the Arnott Substation at 64th Street to 80th Street, followed by overhead lines to the Parkwood Industrial Park, and eventually extending to Hornby Drive and 104th Street.
A staff report notes Ladner Trunk Road is a busy two--lane route and the ongoing works are challenging from a traffic management perspective.
The engineering department has already installed a significant length of watermain between 64th Street and 72nd Avenue, while a B.C. Hydro contractor has substantially completed installation of a duct bank along 64th and 80th streets.
The engineering departmnet is evaluating the impact of diverting traffic to Churchill Street
As well, work has begun on Ladner Trunk Road, west of 80th Street, but a significant amount of work remains.
So for now, drivers will have to go around via Churchill Street.
Deputy engineering director Hugh Fraser told the Optimist the BC Hydro duct bank project detour, between 72nd and 80th streets, will continue until the end of January 2020.
The duct bank installation between 64th and 72nd streets is planned to start in January 2020 and is estimated to take approximately three months to complete.
Once the Hydro duct bank work is finished, there will be repaving on Ladner Trunk Road.
Repaving/restoration work between 64th and 72nd streets is currently planned for the summer/fall of 2020.
Meanwhile, a separate major project is planned for Ladner Trunk Road, aimed at upgrading its safety.
Fraser noted they will be done for the section between 96th Street and Highway 91.
It’s planned for late spring/summer of 2020.
