The Highway 17A overpass has reopened to southbound vehicles, after a closure of more than two weeks.
Crews on Tuesday reconfigured the overpass to allow traffic to cross in both directions, after a meeting between the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) and City of Delta.
The southbound lanes on the 17A overpass were closed July 18 after a commercial truck, southbound on Highway 99, smashed into the structure, causing significant damage to two girders. The closure meant long and expensive detours for residents and commercial traffic to get to Ladner and Tsawwassen.
“Again, I’m very pleased that the ministry responded. This is a financial hardship and so many of our businesses are affected by that,” Mayor George Harvie said.
The ministry said southbound travel on the overpass resumed Tuesday, using the northbound HOV/transit lane.
As a result, northbound HOV traffic, as well as buses, must use the general-purpose Highway 99 on-ramp to access the 99 northbound.
“This is a change to the normal traffic pattern. Drivers should follow signage, use caution and allow additional travel time,” said a news release from the MOTI.
Harvie, along with Delta South MLA Ian Paton, as well as the Delta Chamber of Commerce, all wrote to the ministry asking that something be done.
Chamber executive director Jill McKnight said she’s happy the overpass has reopened and has heard a lot of relief when she gave business owners the news.
“We’re very appreciative to the Ministry of Transport, the City of Delta and the roadway workers who were able to get the work done,” she said.
She said it will make a big difference for businesses.
Complete repairs of the overpass will take months, as MOTI earlier stated it will be the end of summer before a design for repairs is complete.
Once the permanent repair work starts, further closures may be needed, the ministry advised.
