Image: Supplied by City of Chilliwack / The Stewart Creek culvert crossing will be replaced starting this week and will bring traffic delays to Yarrow.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Yarrow culvert

Culvert crossing replacement to bring traffic delays to Yarrow, environmental monitoring

Jul 29, 2022 | 1:46 PM

CHILLIWACK — The City of Chilliwack will replace a culvert crossing in Yarrow starting this week, a necessary project that could bring extensive traffic delays for summertime motorists traveling through Yarrow in August.

The Stewart Creek culvert crossing near 42751 Yarrow Central Road will be replaced starting this Tuesday, August 2 and lasting through the end of September.

Motorists are advised to use an alternate route if possible, or to expect delays on Yarrow Central Road due to single-lane alternating traffic.

If a silver lining exists, it’s that no construction activity will happen on weekends or on Fridays after 12 noon.

Culvert construction consists of fish and amphibian salvage, removal of the existing twinned corrugated steel culverts, and the installation of a large concrete box culvert of 3 metres by 1.5 metres. Retaining walls, concrete barriers, handrails, and full road restoration are also planned.

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Chilliwack mayor Ken Popove said the culvert replacement was a necessary one following the unprecedented events of late 2021.

“After the 2021 atmospheric rivers, we have seen how important it is to continue to build back better than before, which is why we are replacing the two existing steel culverts that are at the end of their life span with a large concrete box culvert,” Popove said.

Image: City of Chilliwack supplied / Chilliwack mayor Ken Popove says the timing of the Stewart Creek culvert replacement isn’t ideal, but it had to be done.

The work, which will be monitored by an environmental consultant, will take place Mondays to Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays from 7 a.m. to noon. Single-lane alternating traffic will be maintained as often as possible. Overnight work on August 22 and September 6 will have a full road closure in effect.

“We know the timing for this project isn’t ideal, as people from all over the Lower Mainland travel to Cultus Lake during the summer, but the work at Stewart Creek must occur during this time as set by the Ministry of Forests and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in order to protect fish habitat,” Popove said. “In order to help mitigate some summer traffic concerns, there will be no construction over the weekends, or after 12 noon on Fridays.”