Drivers in south Coquitlam are being advised to take different routes early next month as King Edward Street will be shut to traffic for two days.
The road closure will happen between Lougheed Highway and United Boulevard from 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7; King Edward Street will open - but only briefly - on Monday for evening rush hour to ease gridlock.
Kiewit/Flatiron construction workers are placing overhead steel girders on the new overpass, located directly east of Ikea. One girder was installed overnight Monday while a second is scheduled to go into a span on May 24, also at night.
The third span will require a road closure next month as the girder will cross over CP Rail lines. And the fourth girder will require a 12-week closure of King Edward Street as it will cross Highway 1.
According to a Coquitlam report, the city has a communications plan to warn the public about next month's closure, including detour signage for drivers. As well, "traffic conditions will be monitored during the two-day closure, which will assist with the planning of the 12-week full closure," the city report states.
On Monday, Tony Delmonico, fire chief for Coquitlam Fire and Rescue, told the city's engineering committee his department has made arrangements to be on United Boulevard as fire crews won't have access to King Edward Street for 12 hours.
For more information about the project, visit www.coquitlam.ca/kingedward or www.pmh1project.com.
jwarren@tricitynews.com
