A revised solution to solve the traffic congestion at Harris Road and Lougheed Highway in Pitt Meadows has cut the cost of the project in half.
Currently slated for construction in 2030 or 2031, Ministry of Transportation plans for the intersection have changed from an overpass that would have cost $45 million to a ground-level solution priced at $22 million, not including the cost of purchasing land.
“I think the fact that the change has cut the costs in half is a positive, might help bring about its construction sooner,” said city director of operations Kim Grout.
“We have already been lobbying for several years on the possibility of phasing the improvements in order to see something happen sooner.”
Revised plans recommend the at-grade crossing at Harris Rd. and Lougheed Hwy. remain, but suggest introducing a traffic circle at Harris Rd. and the yet-to-be-built North Lougheed Connector, in lieu of an overpass.
Grout said that would mean traffic along Harris Rd. would only move north and south, with no left turn access onto the westbound lanes of Lougheed Hwy.
Although Lougheed Hwy. has been widened, the intersection at Harris Rd. continues to register a “failing” grade in traffic counts.
Even with improvements, Gateway forecasts an increase in daytime peak travel time of between 16 per cent (for vehicles travelling from 113B Ave westbound onto Lougheed) to 27 per cent (for vehicles leaving Pitt Meadows via Harris Rd.) by 2021.