Motorists using the 16 Avenue corridor through Langley may have to take detours to bypass construction of a new Highway 99 interchange in Surrey.
The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure will host an open house on Nov. 1 to discuss the project and traffic management. If a closure is necessary, it would be confined to the location of the existing 16 Ave overpass over Highway 99.
The open house will run from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Earl Marriott Secondary, 15751 16 Ave., Surrey.
The Ministry and the City of Surrey have agreed to the $24 million project. On Oct. 22, Township council was advised that the closure of 16 Avenue will be necessary during demolition of the existing underpass and installation of the new structure.
In a letter to the Township, MoT senior project manager Jay Porter said that closing 16 Avenue provides several benefits. These include a much safer worksite for drivers and workers, and reduced impact on the environment.
Furthermore, the closure of 16 Avenue, set to last between four and six months, will trim three months off the construction timetable.
Demolition is expected to begin in February or March, with completion of the interchange targeted for autumn of 2014.
In his letter to council, Porter described the new interchange design as a “tight diamond” featuring on/off ramps on all four quadrants; replacement of the existing two-lane 16 Avenue underpass with a new six-lane structure (four lanes plus two left-turn lanes), traffic signals at either end of the structure, and the widening of 16 Avenue to four lanes but tapering back to two.
Porter indicated that the construction of the off-ramps may provide access for traffic from Highway 99 to 16 Avenue during a portion of the closure.
