Engineering and technical work is now under way to develop a project scope and business case for the new bridge and associated Highway 99 corridor improvements. The work will be presented for public discussion next spring, with the aim of starting construction in 2017. A cable-stayed design is envisaged for the new crossing.
Premier Christy Clark said: "Congestion at the tunnel is frustrating for families and stalling the economy. A new bridge will improve travel times for transit, commuters and commercial users, and open the corridor up to future rapid transit options."
"With the Port Mann Bridge open to traffic and the South Fraser Perimeter Road nearing completion, we're moving to fix the next of BC's worst traffic bottlenecks," said transportation and infrastructure minister Todd Stone. "Today, we're getting to work to develop a solution that will improve the movement of people and goods on a highway that is important to commuters, and vital to our Asia Pacific Gateway."
