Travelling has improved to and from the Abbotsford International Airport, thanks to the completed expansion of Mount Lehman Road between Great Northern Avenue and the Abbotsford International Airport.

“These important upgrades to Mount Lehman Road are helping keep traffic moving safely and smoothly in and out of our busy airport,” said Ron McKinnon, MP for Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam, on behalf of Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “By working closely with our regional partners and municipalities, we will continue to get projects built that improve people’s lives and support strong local economies for years to come.”

McKinnon, Gary Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford, on behalf of Claire Trevena, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure; Henry Braun, mayor of Abbotsford; and Darryl Plecas, MLA for Abbotsford South, gathered at the site to celebrate the road-widening project, which has improved safety and efficiency for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

The project included widening Mount Lehman Road from two lanes to four, adding new bike lanes and sidewalk, enhancing lighting and improving the Simpson Road, Marshall Road and Marshall Road Extension intersections. The upgrades were completed in November 2019.

“Traffic continues to grow rapidly along the Gateway to Abbotsford,” Begg said. “We have improved safety by making intersections better, reduced lineups and delays by opening more lanes for drivers, and created more space for cyclists and pedestrians with new bike paths and sidewalks to encourage more active transportation. All of these upgrades bring welcome relief for people travelling to and from the Abbotsford airport.”

These improvements support the growing flow of traffic that is accessing the Abbotsford International Airport, as well as boosting safety for commercial and local traffic.

“The widening of Mount Lehman Road to the Abbotsford International Airport is a significant step forward for local and regional travellers and provides a needed link for the continued movement of goods and people to and from the Trans-Canada Highway corridor,” said Braun. “The City of Abbotsford greatly appreciates the federal and provincial governments’ continued investment in our community as we continue to build the hub of the Fraser Valley.”

Quick Facts:

• Approximately 6,000 vehicles per day currently use the Mount Lehman corridor. This number is expected to double in the next 25 years.
• Abbotsford International Airport is undergoing significant growth, with a record one million passengers in 2019, up from 842,212 passengers in 2018 and 677,653 passengers in 2017.
• The total cost of the project was $27.5 million, with the Government of Canada contributing over $8.3 million, the Province of B.C. providing more than $17.1 million and the City of Abbotsford supplying the remaining $2 million.