Work will soon be underway to fix Hwy. 17A overpass after it was badly damaged July 18 when an over height truck smashed into it.
But motorists may have to navigate a few detours in order to wend their way around the work that begins Thursday and could last a couple of months.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said on Tuesday there will be possible single-lane closures, nightly on Hwy. 99.
As well, Hwy. 99, southbound, will be fully closed from Friday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. — through to Sunday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. That will require motorists southbound on Hwy. 99, to detour south on to Hwy. 17A to Ladner Trunk Road and then rejoin Hwy. 99 at the Mathews interchange.
As well, during construction, motorists still will be able to drive northbound on the Hwy. 17A overpass, across Hwy. 99.
However, there will be no southbound traffic on the overpass for the duration of the project. Instead, motorists coming from North Delta will have drive through the Massey Tunnel to the Steveston Road interchange in Richmond, then loop around and back on to Hwy. 99 so they can continue southbound through the tunnel towards Delta.
According to a ministry release, repairs to the crossing will be “extensive, involving demolition and girder installation.”
That could take as long as eight weeks, depending on the weather. The cost to repair the bridge will be about $1.4 million.
The structure was damaged when a big truck, southbound on Hwy. 99, smashed into the underside of the overpass.
Two of the five girders of the overpass, built in 1959, will need significant repairs.
During 2022, and up until June 14 of this year, 19 commercial trucks have crashed into highway overpasses, most of those in the Lower Mainland.
