Metro Vancouver traffic volumes not quite as busy as before pandemic

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — If traffic on major routes in Metro Vancouver seems heavier of late, you’re right.

Matt Coppin, in the NEWS 1130 traffic centre, said roads are getting a little busier out there as we get back to some semblance of normal, but the major routes still aren’t as busy as before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re definitely seeing a lot more vehicles on the roads, especially during rush hour,” Coppin said. “There’s no longer that really slow gap that we were experiencing when people first started working from home. Now we’re seeing them come back into the office, back to school, and the rush hour is definitely picking up.”

Coppin added that means you should be giving yourself a little extra time on your commute.

“It’s still not as busy as it was, but you’ve still got to expect the delays, add a little extra time on to your commute,” he advised.

“You might not hit the usual wall of volume, say as in the earlier times of the year, but there are still problems and you will still need to add more time on to your drive.”

Coppin also warned about congestion points.

“For the longest time, counterflow didn’t go in at the Massey Tunnel. There was no need for it. But now we’re starting to see it put in maybe an hour later some days, some days right on time,” he said.

“But it really is depending on the day, depending on the volume. And Highway 1, the Burnaby Lake stretch, we’re seeing the bunch-ups at the merge points.”