Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / As the dual projects near their one-year anniversary start date, the City of Chilliwack says the Tyson-Keith Wilson design-build projects are well on their way towards completion, but did acknowledge there have been some delays.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Road projects in Chilliwack

Tyson, Keith Wilson Road projects progressing as 1-year anniversary start date nears, but delays have occurred

Feb 19, 2025 | 11:27 AM

CHILLIWACK — As the dual projects near their one-year anniversary start date, the City of Chilliwack says the Tyson-Keith Wilson design-build projects are well on their way towards completion, though some delays have occurred.

According to a statement from City of Chilliwack spokesperson Jamie Leggatt, the ongoing Keith Wilson Road project between the Tyson Road and Garrison Boulevard is nearing completion as final boulevard restorations and tree installations begin shortly.

Work on Tyson Road is also moving forward, but there have been delays. Telus and Rogers continue their efforts to remove utility poles south of South Sumas Road. However, upgrades to BC Hydro utility poles along South Sumas Road have been delayed due to low temperatures, Leggatt said, as the work requires a scheduled power outage for residents. These works are now tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. Additionally, the installation of traffic signal bases has been delayed due to frozen ground conditions.

“The relocation of the Hydro poles along South Sumas Road, near Tyson Road, is a key milestone,” Leggatt wrote in a statement to Fraser Valley Today. “Once completed, this will enable the contractors to proceed with Telus/Rogers line relocations, pole removals, road widening, geometric shifts, and the completion of traffic signal work. BC Hydro has been very responsive throughout the project and has been proceeding with its work in a timely fashion given the weather conditions.”

Construction-related activities on Tyson Road began in February 2024 with tree and vegetation removals and land survey works, followed by the official construction start in March 2024.

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Construction activities for Tyson Road consist of the following:

• Curb installation and multi-use pathways on both sides of Tyson Road
• A signalized intersection upgrade/widening at South Sumas Road
• 1,270 metres of road widening/reconstruction
• Drainage works
• Paving
• Streetlighting
• Street trees

Once completed, the municipality states Tyson Road will become the first north-south thoroughfare in Chilliwack with continuous cycle and pedestrian facilities. The roughly 1-kilometer section that had been without sidewalks represented the only section of Tyson Road without sidewalks along the 8.5-km corridor. The city has ranked it among its highest priority projects in its Active Transportation Plan, and identified it as a core route in the city’s Cycle Vision Plan.

Part of the project will be funded by $500,000 from the B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program.

Back in October 2022, Chilliwack City Council approved a motion at its meeting to pursue a plan to add sidewalks and cycling lanes to both sides of Tyson Road between Evans Road and Watson Road. Council had been asked to authorize staff to apply for shared funding under the B.C. government’s Active Transportation Grant, which would enable the city to receive significant funding towards project costs to fund the development of active transportation infrastructure for all ages and abilities.

The provincial grant typically covers things like multi-use protected travel lanes, pedestrian and cycling safety improvements, and lighting and way finding for up to two-shovel ready projects, according to a staff report.

The Tyson Road cycling improvements will connect a north-south network from Wellington Avenue to Canada Education Park and the UFV Chilliwack campus.

Once completed, Keith Wilson Road will undergo similar improvements in a stretch of road between Tyson Road and Garrison Boulevard.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Keith Wilson Road as shown in this September 2024 file photo, showing curb and sidewalk installation.

These public works improvement consist of the following:

• Sidewalk and bike lanes on the north side and a multi-use pathway on the south side
• Approximately 730 metres of road widening/reconstruction
• Drainage works
• Paving
• Street trees
• Curb installation
• Road geometry improvements to reduce westbound traffic entering the roundabout