B.C. adds $2.65B for Fraser Valley Highway 1 improvement initiative

LANGLEY, B.C. — The British Columbia government is providing $2.65 billion for upgrades to Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley in an effort to relieve traffic congestion and ease daily commutes between the communities of Langley and Abbotsford.

The funding will go toward upgrades between Mount Lehman Road west of downtown Abbotsford to Highway 11 on the opposite side of the city.

The money builds on $2.34 billion in funding approved last fall for upgrades between Mount Lehman Road and 264th Street in the Township of Langley.

A statement from the Ministry of Transportation says that work will begin this year and include four new interchanges, as well as the rebuilding of several highway overpasses to boost the clearance height for commercial vehicles.

It says procurement for work stemming from the latest funding will begin next year, with major construction starting in 2026 and wrapping up in 2031.

The ministry says the Fraser Valley Highway 1 improvement program will eventually see the route expanded through the Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford toward Chilliwack.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2024.

The Canadian Press