Construction of the $800-million Golden Ears Bridge, which will span one kilometre and connect Langley and Pitt Meadows, reached the halfway point this week.
Translink Chair Dale Parker announced Saturday the project is on schedule and on budget, which means by the summer of 2009 there will be six lanes of cars and trucks, two lanes of bicycles and two lanes of pedestrians moving across the Fraser River.
It's a massive project that will also include 14 kilometres of new roadway, much of it elevated to cross highways and rail lines and improve transportation in the surrounding communities. Another 11.5 kilometres of local road reconstruction will be done.
The province says this is the first major improvement to Metro Vancouver's transportation system in 20 years - and more megaprojects are in the works, as the province forecasts that 1 million more people will move into the region in the next 25 years.
B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon turned out for Saturday's media preview of the site.
"I'm here as a tourist to take a look and to see how this project will complement the provincial vision," Falcon said.
Some highlights of the Golden Ears project:
- There will be 16 bridges, ramps and viaducts including the main river bridge.
- A total of 4,656 metres of structures will be built once the bridge is complete.
- The bridge is expected to spur the eventual growth of 700 new businesses in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Surrey and Langley.
- The Golden Ears project is an adaptation of the Alex Fraser cable-stayed bridge, which sits further west on the Fraser River and connects Richmond and New Westminster with the municipality of Delta.
The Golden Ears megaproject, when completed, will knock at least 30 minutes off the time it currently takes to get from Langley to Pitt Meadows.
To recover costs, a toll of approximately $3 will be charged to drivers.
