The public engagement sessions for the Highway 1 – 216th interchange project in Langley have concluded, with support for the increased capacity and traffic flow that the future interchange will provide.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure undertook public consultation to receive feedback on the overall project design, the pedestrian/cycling improvements, environmental upgrades and noise-wall options. Public consultation began in February 2016 and concluded on April 21, 2016.
The project engagement website shared detailed project information, visual display boards, design renderings, and included an online feedback form survey.
Consultation on this project included:
- Six stakeholder meetings with more than 110 representatives in attendance.
- Seven First Nations group meetings with more than 15 representatives in attendance.
- 481 attendees at the public open house (held on March 31, 2016).
- More than 3,330 visits to the project website.
- 310 people submitting feedback forms.
- 485 people signing up to receive project update emails.
Following consultation activities, the ministry has completed a public engagement summary report. The information in this report considers public and stakeholder input received on draft designs, as well as additional technical and financial information undertaken to finalize the project design.
The report can be found on the project website at: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/highway1and216/
A backgrounder follows.
Backgrounders
The following concerns and questions were raised at the public open-house session and from the online feedback.
The responses reflect the ministry’s consideration of consultation input from all stakeholders, along with technical and financial rationale for the final design.
Interchange:
- Some participants raised concerns about the new interchange bringing increased traffic (in particular commercial truck traffic) onto 216th Street through the Township of Langley, as well as traffic short-cutting, and concerns for the safety of pedestrians.
- Response: The ministry is working closely with the Township of Langley to address the concerns of local citizens about the potential impact of this project on local roads and the larger community. This interchange is all about increasing safety, capacity and efficiency on Highway 1, and the ministry will continue to work closely with all interested parties now and into the future. Ministry staff are taking steps to reduce construction noise and are monitoring traffic through the area. The ministry understands that the Township of Langley has plans for road and pedestrian safety improvements along 216th Street.
- Some participants raised the question as to why the Glover Road location was not considered for this interchange.
- Response: As part of the Township of Langley’s long term-transportation plan, 216th Street was designated the preferred location for the interchange because it is equal distance from the 200th and 232nd Street interchanges and it maintains safe merge in/out distances for vehicles entering or exiting Highway 1. An interchange at Glover Road does not meet or service the long-term growth plans for the Township of Langley and the Walnut Grove area. The interchange at 216th will provide a viable opportunity to conveniently cross the highway and provide the north-south connections. Glover Road does not offer good north-south connectivity.
- Some suggestions for additional highway lane widening eastbound from 216th to 232nd Street.
- Response: As part of the 10-year transportation plan, BC on the Move, a number of Highway 1 improvement projects are being planned by the ministry to improve traffic flow in the region, including on Highway 1 beyond 216th Street. The scope and budget for the 216th Street Interchange Project focuses on immediate-term needs to accommodate growth in the Township of Langley.
Pedestrian/cycling improvements:
- Support for separated bike lanes to reduce conflict zones between cyclists and pedestrians.
- Response: The final design adds a three meter multi-use pathway on the west side of the interchange overpass, and now, both sides of the overpass will have a three meter multi-use pathway. This design feature will add safety for pedestrians and cyclists travelling in both directions across the overpass and it better accommodates future commuter cycling growth.
Environmental upgrades:
- Support for the inclusion of environmental improvements.
- Response: The final design includes two new culverts located at Yorkson and Guy Creek which will improve the drainage flow along Highway 1 and provide valuable wildlife and fisheries habitats. These environmental upgrades meet the requirements outlined by the Environmental Assessment Certificate.
Noise walls:
- Support for noise mitigation measures, to cut down on the noise along both the north and south sides of Highway 1.
- Response: This project will provide noise mitigation strategies. While noise walls do not block out construction noise entirely, they do go a long way towards minimizing noise associated with the project. Based on recommendations from noise impact assessments, and based on the public’s feedback, the ministry will construct the following noise walls: North of Highway 1 from 208th to 216th – a five-meter-high concrete noise wall along with a noise berm to provide continuous noise mitigation to 216th Street; North of Highway 1 between 208th and Yorkson Creek – a five-meter-high concrete noise wall for noise mitigation; South of Highway 1 from 212th to 216th Street – a three-meter-high wood noise wall to provide continuous noise mitigation from 208th to 216th; South of Highway 1 between 206th and 207A Street – a three-meter-high noise berm for noise mitigation.
Learn more:
Project information: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/highway1and216/
https://news.gov.bc.ca/12586
Office of the Premier
