The new Port Mann Bridge will open to eight lanes of traffic on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, and tolling will commence after one free week, on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The transition to the eight-lane bridge opening will happen gradually with Highway 1 westbound traffic shifted onto the new bridge overnight on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Westbound traffic will remain in a two-lane configuration until Dec. 1 as crews complete widening and improvements through the Cape Horn Interchange, at the north end of the bridge. Westbound commuters are advised to drive with extra care and watch for new signage as crews reposition barriers and lanes leading onto the new Port Mann Bridge.

Dec. 1 will also mark the completion of interchange improvements and highway widening east of the Port Mann Bridge construction, including more than 20 km of new HOV lanes extending to Langley.

Construction will continue on the Port Mann Bridge and along the Highway 1 corridor after the Dec. 1 opening. Crews will keep working to complete the bridge to its full 10-lane capacity, and work will continue between the Cape Horn Interchange and Vancouver.

Once complete, the new Port Mann Bridge will eliminate the worst traffic bottleneck in British Columbia, reducing commute times by up to 50 per cent and saving drivers as much as an hour per day.

Quotes:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Mary Polak -

"When construction began more than four years ago, we said we'd open this bridge and give drivers some relief by December of 2012. I'm incredibly proud and grateful to the hard working men and women of this project who have helped us deliver on that commitment. We've been asking drivers to 'hang in there' for years. Now a faster, more efficient Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 really are just around the corner."

Transportation Investment Corporation CEO Mike Proudfoot -

"We're asking drivers to use caution as crews reposition lanes and barriers as we get ready to open the new Port Mann Bridge to westbound traffic. In addition, over the next two weeks we will be preparing to open the remaining lanes on the bridge and Highway 1 from Langley to Coquitlam in time for Dec. 1. Every effort will be made to minimize the disruption associated with this transition."

Learn more:

To register your vehicle with TReO, visit: www.treo.ca

Media Contacts:

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241

Greg Johnson
Manager, Communications
Transportation Investment Corporation
778 783-1220