New lane lets bridge go with the flow
$70-million project includes signs to direct traffic to quickest crossings
The Alex Fraser Bridge will have something in common with San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge after a lane is added to ease congestion.
To make the most of the new seventh lane, a movable barrier will be used, similar to one added two years ago to the Golden Gate Bridge, Transportation Minister Todd Stone said. It will consist of steel barriers filled with concrete that are shifted from one side of the lane to the other, like a zipper, by a special vehicle.
Federal and provincial officials announced on Thursday the change to the span across the Fraser River on Highway 91 between Delta and New Westminster. The new lane will be used as a counter flow with the direction of travel changing between morning and afternoon rush hours.
“By reconfiguring the Alex Fraser Bridge to seven lanes, we’re able to improve traffic capacity significantly and improve the travel time for commuters and for goods movement,” Stone said. “This is especially important during morning and afternoon peak periods when traffic is the heaviest.”
According to news reports, the Golden Gate barrier has been a success, other than the side-effect of more drivers speeding on the bridge.
Stone said the posted speed limit on the Alex Fraser will be reduced to 70 kilometres an hour from 90 once the new lane is ready.
The seventh lane will normally be a southbound lane, but will be turned into a northbound lane during the morning rush by moving the barrier.
The new lane will be created by reducing the width of the six existing lanes and removing the shoulders. The lanes will still be a bit wider than those on the Oak Street and Ironworkers Memorial bridges. The ministry expects some delays as the Alex Fraser is reconfigured, but will get as much of the work done as possible in off-peak hours.
The $70-million project will also add up to 13 electronic signs at key locations on highways throughout the Lower Mainland to provide upto-date information about delays on the four Fraser River crossings.
“There are a lot of vehicles on the road and only four Fraser River crossings, so if there’s a faster route across the river on any given day, we want commuters to know where that fastest crossing is,” Stone said.
More than 119,000 vehicles use the bridge daily, with half-hour waits and lines more than three kilometres long common in rush hour.
“The length of rush-hour queues is frustrating, to say the least,” Stone said. “That’s a lot of idling. That’s a lot of wasted time.”
Delta Mayor Lois Jackson said it took her two hours to get to Burnaby from Delta on Wednesday. She believes the new lane will help with the congestion, but will only be a stopgap until a new bridge replaces the George Massey tunnel.
The new bridge lane is expected to reduce the morning commute by about six minutes and the afternoon commute by 12 to 16 minutes.
The federal government is putting up almost $34 million and the province just over $36 million.
Stone said the additional lane will go to tender this spring and construction will begin as soon as a contractor is chosen. It is expected to be complete in spring 2018. The signs should be ready by the fall.
A new interchange is also being built at Highway 91 and 72nd Avenue, about six kilometres south of the bridge.