Langley Launcher crosses 64th Avenue in Cloverdale
Published 4:51 pm Friday, July 17, 2026
The Langley Launcher officially crossed 64th Avenue and Fraser Highway last week.
The Langley Launcher is one of four SkyTrain gantries that is building the elevated track along the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain route. The gantries are large, purpose-built lifting machines used to bring up the many precast-concrete segments that make up the bulk of the SkyTrain line.
Each gantry is more than 100 metres long and weighs more than 440 tonnes. The unique machines were given names of the communities they would be working in and/or ending in.
The Langley Launcher began at the future Hillcrest Station at 184th Street and is moving towards the line’s terminus in Langley. The other gantry names are: Surrey Sprinter, Fleetwood Flyer, and Clayton Clipper. Those gantries are also moving along their respective sections right now.
Bill Manhas, a local resident, has been documenting the Langley Launcher’s plodding progress through Clayton and down the hill to Willlowbrook.
He snapped some pics as the launcher crossed 64th on July 9.
“I’ve been taking a lot of pictures as I walk that stretch of road everyday,” Manhas told the Cloverdale Reporter. “It was so nice seeing the Langley Launcher coming across 64th Avenue.”
He started taking construction pictures last September. Manhas figures he’s got more than 300 images so far. He said seeing the many different stages of construction along the line has been really fascinating.
Manhas explained he’s been watching the Langley Launcher come along the route for a while now. He thought it was a “bit of a milestone” to see the gantry creep across 64th.
“Now it’s all downhill to the Willowbrook Mall.”
He added he’ll keep documenting the process as the launcher approaches the mall area.
“I always find it interesting,” he said. “It’s going to change the area so much.”