December 5, 2012

Portion of South Fraser Perimeter Road opens

The eastern section of the new South Fraser Perimeter Road, B.C.'s newest highway, opened to traffic on Dec. 1.

“The South Fraser Perimeter Road will help meet the transportation needs of our growing communities and expanding markets by providing a four-lane expressway for commercial, commuter and tourism traffic,” said B.C.’s Transportation and Infrastructure minister Mary Polak.

The opening of the 10-kilometre eastern section of the South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR) from Highway 1 at 176th St. to 136th St. in Surrey coincided with the opening of the new Port Mann Bridge to eight lanes of traffic and provides a free alternative to drivers who do not want to pay the bridge toll. Eastbound and westbound traffic on Highway 1 can access the SFPR via the 176th St. Interchange (Highway 15).

The SFPR is now officially Highway 17 and the existing Highway 17 from Tsawwassen ferry terminal to Highway 99 has been renumbered to Highway 17A.

The remainder of the SFPR, from 136th St. in Surrey to Deltaport Way in Delta, will open to traffic in December 2013. Once complete, the SFPR will relieve congestion between the Port Mann, Pattullo and Alex Fraser bridges, and the George Massey Tunnel, providing route options for motorists travelling between Langley, Surrey, Delta and the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

The federal government, through the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, provided $365 million towards the $1.26 billion project. The provincial government contributed the remaining $899 million.

JOC NEWS SERVICE

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