It would be hard not to notice all the roadwork taking place on the South Delta side of the George Massey Tunnel.
The series of improvements along the Highway 99 corridor are to tie into the replacement project for the tunnel, which will see a new crossing built by 2030.
The improvements are aimed at easing traffic congestion and supporting transit on both sides of the aging crossing, all in advance of the tunnel’s replacement.
The Highway 99/17A interchange improvements are expected to be complete this fall, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Those improvements include the extension and widening of the northbound Highway 99 off-ramp approach to the Highway 17A intersection, upgrading the George Massey Tunnel bike shuttle stop and improvements to cycling facilities in and around the interchange.
The Highway 99 bus-on-shoulder transit lanes are expected to be complete in spring 2023.
The lanes will tie into dedicated transit lanes through the new eight-lane tunnel to bring free-flowing transit across the river, improving the quality and reliability of public transit in the region, the ministry explains.
On the Richmond side of the tunnel last week, ground was officially broken on the new five-lane Steveston interchange, also part of the corridor project.
The Richmond project will see the replacement of the existing two-lane overpass at Steveston Highway and Highway 99 with a five-lane structure that accommodates two eastbound lanes and three westbound lanes, including a left-turn lane.
The ministry says work is ramping up on the interchange site this summer with clearing and utility relocations getting underway in the coming weeks.
Major construction will begin this year with the new interchange expected to be in operation in 2025.
