Vehicle traffic will be free flowing on Highway 1 at the McKenzie Interchange on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, marking a milestone in the project.

Drivers travelling northbound or southbound on Highway 1 through the new interchange will no longer have to wait at traffic lights. Instead, they will travel freely along this route using the new highway alignment that has been constructed under the McKenzie/Admirals bridge.

“We are working closely with our partners to build modern highway infrastructure that supports economic growth, connects communities and reduces carbon emissions,” said Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “With the traffic lights now removed on Highway 1, drivers will spend less time idling in traffic and more time getting where they need to go, helping improve the commute and keep businesses competitive.”

Drivers travelling south on Highway 1 will stay in the left lanes to remain on the highway. To access McKenzie Avenue and Admirals Road, southbound drivers will exit to the right. This configuration is the same as the nearby Helmcken Road interchange and will be in place until the loop ramp is completed in 2020.

“The removal of the traffic lights from the highway at McKenzie Avenue is a big step in the project, and great news for the thousands of people who rely on Highway 1 each day,” said Claire Trevena, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “There is still a lot of construction left to do, and I thank drivers, transit users, cyclists and area residents for their patience as we work to complete this important project.”

With the new alignment for Highway 1, commuters will begin to see some travel time savings. However, the dedicated transit lanes are still to be constructed and the construction zone speed limit is in still in effect. The full estimated travel time savings will not be realized until the project is completed.  

It is anticipated that the entire project, including the McKenzie exit loop ramp, northbound two-lane on-ramp from McKenzie, new multi-use overpass, bus lanes, transit facilities and landscaping, will be completed by summer 2020.

The total estimated cost of the Highway 1 Admirals Road/McKenzie interchange is $96 million, with the Government of Canada contributing over $32.6 million under the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component - National and Regional Projects and the Government of British Columbia funding the remaining $63.35 million.

Learn More:

More information on the McKenzie Interchange project and a map of the new intersection are available online: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/mckenzieinterchange/construction-updates/

A backgrounder follows.