Work to complete the King Edward overpass in Coquitlam is taking longer than expected and commuters should expect more road closures before the project is complete in the spring of 2012.
Drivers have been getting used to new routes to shopping districts along Woolridge Street and United Boulevard after a partial closure of King Edward was introduced last February.
But starting mid-summer, a further closure of King Edward from Woolridge Street to United Boulevard will be implemented.
A spokesperson for the city said Taft Avenue is being considered as a possible detour and a detailed communication plan is being worked out but as yet there is no firm date for the closure. "Once we have a more precise date, we will let businesses know in as many ways as possible," said Mark Zaborniak, Coquitlam's manager of design and construction.
The change won't affect Woolridge Street and may even reduce traffic because drivers won't be able to use it to get to United Boulevard. But it will make getting to United Boulevard and Aircare and Wastech facilities more challenging as the main route into the area will be from the bailey bridge at the New Westminster boundary, the east end of United Boulevard at the Cape Horn interchange or at Fawcett Road for drivers using the freeway.
If Taft Avenue can be extended, however, central Coquitlam residents would have another option, although those details have yet to be worked out, Zaborniak said.
"We're working with Kiewit [the contractor] on how Taft will be used," he said.
"The biggest question right now is when is the closure going to be. That's the first question that people ask," Zaborniak said.
The project has faced numerous challenges, not the least of which has been traffic management in one of the busiest shopping areas in the city. "We've done a lot of signage and I believe it's working," he said.
There were still other problems. The ground conditions were varied and included old logs and roadway materials, abandoned pipes, boulders and poor soil condition, which slowed down the installation of utilities and the foundation for the overpass. Property acquisition took longer than expected, many utilities had to be relocated, including a large Telus duct, and dangerous high voltage wires made installing bridge piers difficult.
The good news is that when the 12-week King Edward closure is over, the new overpass will be open - at least to two-way traffic. It will be another six months before Kiewit/Flatiron finishes the four-lane overpass and the pedestrian promenade.
dstrandberg@tricitynews.com
TRANSPORTATION DETAILS
Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce is hosting a transportation forum on April 20.
The session, which will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Red Robinson Show Theatre at the Boulevard Casino, is free and open to the public but registration is required at the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce website (www.tricitieschamber.com) to reserve a seat.
Area residents are invited to attend the program to hear an update on the $2.46-billion Port Mann/Highway 1 project by T1 Corp./Kiewit Flatiron, information on the King Edward overpass (which is part of the Gateway program), and updates on the North Fraser Perimeter project, which includes the proposed United Boulevard extension into New Westminster. Presentations will be followed by an opportunity to look at displays and ask questions.
