Tuesday-morning commuters got the first crack at the new Port Mann bridge but drivers will want to avoid Highway 1 and the Cape Horn this weekend when numerous lane closures will be in effect.
In the early-morning hours of Sept. 18, eastbound traffic was shifted from the old Port Mann to three lanes on the new span, with drivers following the new alignment starting just east of the Cape Horn Interchange in Coquitlam. The new span rejoins the existing highway alignment between the bridge and the 152 Street Interchange.
Drivers will want to avoid Highway 1 and the Cape Horn area this weekend, when highway construction will mean significant lane closures that will be in effect from Friday night to Sunday morning.
Between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, Highway 1 westbound will be reduced to one lane at the Cape Horn Interchange.
In addition, access to Highway 1 eastbound from the westbound lanes of Lougheed Highway (via the Cape Horn Interchange) will be closed. Drivers on Lougheed who want to access Highway 1 eastbound will have to use the Brunette Avenue on-ramp about three kilometres to the west.
Traffic pattern changes that went into effect this week include:
Final alignment for Lougheed Highway eastbound, which takes drivers under Highway 1 to reconnect with the current Lougheed alignment on the north side of Highway 1.
The eastbound exit to Lougheed Highway eastbound (Exit 44) will stay in its current location, meaning drivers will merge with Lougheed's eastbound lanes and drive on the new Lougheed eastbound alignment.
Drivers accessing United Boulevard and the Mary Hill Bypass from Lougheed Highway eastbound will drive on the new Lougheed alignment and merge with United at the north end of the Cape Horn Interchange.
Coquitlam RCMP Const. Michelle Luca cautioned drivers to give themselves plenty of time to get to their destination.
"Go to the web link regarding Port Mann construction and look at your route beforehand," she said. "It's hard to react if the route is unknown."
