Improvements coming to Langley stretch of B.C.'s Highway 1

Construction is officially underway along Highway 1 through Langley, B.C.
The province is widening the highway and replacing a number of aging overpasses.
It’s a long overdue upgrade for commuters in the Fraser Valley who find themselves stuck in gridlock traffic on a daily basis.
British Columbia's transportation minister and other officials broke ground Thursday morning.
Minister Rob Fleming says the upgrades will relieve congestion for drivers and address some problematic areas.
“Our goal is to make life better for moms and dads who are driving their kids to soccer practice and are stuck in traffic in the evening,” Fleming said during a news conference.
The massive project will widen 10 kilometres of Highway 1.
Crews are starting their work at the problematic Glover Road overpass.
It’s lower than the other ones along the Fraser Valley stretch of Highway 1.
As a result, the overpass has been repeatedly struck by trucks with overheight loads, forcing its closure for repairs and snarling traffic below.
The current crossing has a height clearance of 4.3 metres, but will now be improved to meet current standards of a minimum height clearance of 5.2 metres.
The overpass connects the Milner area with Fort Langley across the highway.
Replacing it will cost nearly $20 million.
The new crossing will include three-metre-wide multi-use pathways in both directions for bikes and pedestrians. Since the upgraded crossing will replace the old one, the overpass will have to be shut down in the coming weeks.
The resulting detour is estimated to add about five minutes of travel time and will last for just over a year, as the new overpass is estimated to be open by summer 2024.
The Highway 1 216th-264th Street Widening Project is valued at $345 million, with the federal government contributing up to $95.9 million.
The province is committing $225.58 million and the Township of Langley will give the remaining $23.37 million.
Canada’s contribution is part of the larger $108.9-million Trans-Canada Highway 1 high-occupancy-vehicle lane extension project under the ‘New Building Canada Fund.'
The entire project is expected to be completed by 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former prime minister Stephen Harper says Canada needs a 'Conservative renaissance'
Canada needs a 'Conservative renaissance,' former prime minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday, but he cautioned that Pierre Poilievre should wait until an election before telling Canadians how he might run the country.

Canada's relationship with the U.S. needed rebuilding post-Trump says Ambassador Hillman
Canada's Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman says the country’s relationship with its American counterparts required rebuilding after the Trump administration.
Biden is coming to Canada: Here's what we know about his visit
U.S. President Joe Biden is coming to Canada Thursday evening, kicking off his short but long-awaited overnight official visit to Canada. Here's what CTV News has confirmed about what will be on the agenda, and what key players are saying about the upcoming visit.
WeightWatchers appears set to close dozens of Canadian locations Sunday
WW International appears set to close dozens of its roughly 118 WeightWatchers locations across Canada on March 26 in what may be part of a restructuring strategy.
First victim in fatal Old Montreal fire identified as 76-year-old woman
Montreal police have identified the first victim of the deadly fire in Old Montreal last week that has left two dead and five missing. Insp. David Shane said it was a woman named Camille Maheux, who was 76 years old.
Top 4 quirky consumer complaints received in 2022: BBB
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says it receives tens of thousands of complaints from consumers across Canada each year, but once in a while a "quirky" one will take them by surprise.
What are the predictions for Canada's real estate market this spring?
The Canadian real estate market has been sluggish since last year, when prospective buyers started putting off plans to purchase homes as the Bank of Canada aggressively hiked interest rates eight consecutive times. But realtors see many edging toward a purchase once more.
More than half of Canadians OK with telling lies to spare others’ feelings: Poll
According to a new poll conducted by Research Co., more than half of Canadians surveyed said it is permissible to lie to spare someone’s feelings.
Canada broke a population growth record in 2022: StatCan
Canada's population grew by more than one million over the course of one calendar year, breaking previous records, a new Statistics Canada report says.