YOUR PRESPECTIVE: New interchange will ease traffic for people in the Fraser Valley

Nobody likes to sit in traffic. Long commutes take time away from family and add stress to the day. As our province grows, more people are choosing to live and work here, which means more people on the road. That’s why our government is investing in important transportation improvements that help people get where they need to go safely and reliably.

On April 9, Minister of Transportation and Transit Mike Farnworth joined local leaders from across the Fraser Valley to mark the beginning of major construction on the Highway 11 Interchange Project in Abbotsford. This milestone reflects our commitment to safer, more reliable travel for people in the Lower Mainland, and is a part of our Fraser Valley Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Plan. The government is providing $242 million for the project.

The Fraser Valley is one of the fastest growing regions in British Columbia. Highway 1 is a key route that connects people and communities across the region, linking the Fraser Valley to Surrey, Metro Vancouver and the rest of the province. With more than 80,000 drivers using the highway every day, it plays an essential role in how people get to work, visit family, and how businesses get the supplies and inventory they need.

This project will help ensure the infrastructure in the Fraser Valley keeps up with the needs of the community. The replacement of the interchange will include widening 2.1 kilometres of Highway from McKenzie Road to just east of the Highway 11 interchange. The project will also add new HOV lanes, improving local transit options, and creating safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians. These upgrades are designed to reduce congestion, increase safety, and help people spend less time in traffic and more time at home and in their communities.