The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is committed to finding solutions to traffic-diversion issues during peak times on the Alex Fraser Bridge.

The issue is that some drivers are skirting the traffic congestion on the bridge by using Annacis Island as a “short cut”. The ministry is committed to work in partnership with the Corporation of Delta and local stakeholders to come up with a practical and viable solution.

In order to bring in the voices of local stakeholders, the ministry is forming a new working group of eight to 10 people. This group will be comprised of local business owners, municipal representatives and ministry staff who will be exploring the issues and options together to find solutions to the problem.

“We understand and appreciate the frustrations of local area residents and of business owners regarding the issue of drivers taking a short cut through Annacis Island. It is unacceptable for people to divert onto Annacis Island as a short cut, as this creates other problems, such as blocking accesses to local businesses,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “Therefore, the ministry is taking action by forming a working group with the Corporation of Delta and local stakeholders to find traffic management solutions that will reduce congestions on Annacis Island.”

A few weeks ago, the ministry piloted an option involving pickets at the southbound merge onto Highway 91 from Annacis Island that was designed to deter traffic short-cutting by creating some delay. While the pickets were effective at reducing short-cutters, local businesses were concerned with the level of delay that was also affecting their businesses.

As a result, the ministry has removed the pickets and will meet with the working group to explore other ways to help mitigate the diversion issues. The working group will meet in the next couple of weeks. Once a solution is reached, the ministry will move quickly on its implementation.

“It is vital that we find a solution for the people and businesses of Annacis Island that will allow them to carry on with business as usual,” said Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton. “I am confident that this working group will be able to propose such a solution, and that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will execute that plan in collaboration with the Corporation of Delta in order to improve the local traffic situation on Annacis Island.”

This will complement the ministry’s multi-step plan to help unclog congestion on the Alex Fraser Bridge and Highway 91, starting with a new interchange at Highway 91 and 72nd, which will eliminate the final traffic signal on Highway 91 leading up to the bridge. The plan also includes short-term remedies, such as more tow trucks to clear stalled vehicles, increasing highway patrols and looking at the idea of adding a new counter-flow system.

This is part of B.C. on the Move, the B.C. government’s 10-year plan for the improvement of the province’s transportation network. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will invest almost $2.7 billion over the next three years to improve B.C.’s transportation network.

Learn More:

B.C. on the Move is available online at: www.gov.bc.ca/bconthemove