EGRT Construction has announced the beginning of construction for the Lincoln Station project at Coquitlam Centre mall and is advising drivers and pedestrians to watch out for signs and traffic control personnel during the work, which is expected to last until late 2015.
Construction is expected to take place in a fenced off area from Monday through Saturday each week between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. The station is to be located in the northeastern section of the Coquitlam Centre parking lot between Northern Avenue and Lincoln Avenue.
The public should expect some noise from hauling, piling and foundation work and shoppers may also notice some parking lot changes as well as sidewalk and traffic detours. But EGRT stated in a bulletin issued this week that every effort will be made to minimize disruption and maximize traffic flow.
The project is a milestone for Coquitlam which lobbied heavily for the Lincoln Station, which was finally added to the route with the contribution of $7 million from the federal government and $21 million from Pensionfund Realty Ltd., a privately-held real estate company that owns the mall, and the City of Coquitlam.
Meanwhile, on the other end of town, some night time work will be necessary in the Lougheed Town Centre Station area beginning Jan. 13 and continuing to the end of March. According to EGRT, crews will be installing girders, deck panels and pouring concrete for the new elevated guideway that will tie into the existing SkyTrain system.
The night time work is necessary to avoid disrupting daytime transit service and because cranes have to be used to install large beams.
The work will take place from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and some noise is expected although efforts will be made to reduce it. As well, there will be night time lane closures and detours along North Road. For example, southbound traffic on North Road will be detoured intermittently at Austin Avenue to allow crews to begin installing girders for the elevated guideway.
For more information about the project, visit www.evergreenline.gov.bc.ca or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/evergreenline.
