Heads up to Vancouver drivers: a busy block on a major route is closing for four months, starting Monday.
Beginning at 7 a.m., East Broadway will be completely closed to vehicle traffic between Main and Quebec streets.
The closure will be in place to allow crews to work on the construction of the Broadway Subway.
“Crews will remove the traffic deck panels and supporting girders,” the Broadway Subway Project information page says.
“Activities include, but are not limited to, backfilling, road repairs, crane activities, saw cutting, welding, as-and-when-needed landscaping, and occasional hydro vac.”
Work will run from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
Sidewalks along the stretch will remain open, and all businesses and homes will remain accessible, the City of Vancouver says. Transit will be detoured to East 8th Avenue, and drivers must use alternate routes.
Businesses concerned
The provincial government first announced the four-month closure back in October.
Earlier this month, Neil Wyles — executive director of the Mount Pleasant BIA — told 1130 NewsRadio that businesses along Broadway are extremely concerned about the impact of this closure.
He says some businesses might not stay open through the next four months.
“These businesses have experienced some severe disruptions for the last five years,” Wyles said.
“We do want to remind people this closure isn’t just a short-term thing. This is, as far as we’re concerned, an unplanned closure, slapped together, and it’s causing a lot of anxiety with my members.”
He also questions how long the closure might actually end up lasting.
“They say four months but… I’m taking that with a grain of salt. This four-month closure will be followed by another four-month closure at the Cambie [Street] side of it. It is a rolling closure. It will close for four months at Cambie, then it will close for four months at Granville [Street]. So, these businesses are going to see pretty much a disruption to the traffic flow along Broadway for the best part of a year.”
The Broadway Subway Project was initially estimated to be finished in 2025, but is now slated to open in fall 2027, two years behind schedule and roughly $100 million over budget.
The total cost of the project is expected to be nearly $3 billion.
Subway expected to save commuters up to 30 minutes a day
When complete, the 5.7-kilometre Broadway Subway line will be an extension of the SkyTrain Millennial Line, connecting VCC-Clark Station to Arbutus.
The province says 700 metres will be elevated and five kilometres will be tunnelled below ground. The line will include six underground stations.
According to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit, the subway will save the average Broadway transit commuter up to 30 minutes a day.
Listen live to 1130 NewsRadio Vancouver every 10 minutes on the ones for traffic updates. You can also follow us on X @NewsRadioVan and subscribe to Traffic Alerts sent directly to your inbox.
— With files from Sonia Aslam
Listen live to 1130 NewsRadio Vancouver every 10 minutes on the ones for traffic updates. You can also follow us on X @NewsRadioVan and subscribe to Traffic Alerts sent directly to your inbox.