Surrey votes to widen 84 Ave, at odds with City of Delta
Posted June 6, 2021 6:10 pm.
Last Updated June 6, 2021 6:35 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Metro Vancouver cities of Surrey and Delta are at odds over the future of their shared arterial, 84 Avenue
Surrey City Council voted this past week, five to four, to approve the engineering plan to expand 84 Avenue from Fraser Highway right through to the City of Delta.
According to the City of Surrey, the 84 Avenue project is phase one of the city’s plan to “complete the two missing road segments along 84 Ave between 120 Street and Fraser Highway.” The plan has seen some Surrey residents concerned, as the project will also impact Bear Creek Park.
84th Avenue through #BearCreekPark — yay or nay?
City Council votes (5-4) to design an extension to 84th Ave. Construction could start this year, says @delford. 'Friends of Bear Creek Park' believes the project can be stopped. #SurreyBC pic.twitter.com/VYf673DTsD
— Tim James (@TimJamesPlus) June 1, 2021
Councillor Doug Elford says he’s long supported East-West connectivity in Surrey, adding that Surrey has grown to a point where traffic is a “major problem” and something that needs to be addressed.
Citing congestion and safety problems along 88 Avenue, Elford says the expansion would ease demand in the area.
“We need to take the pressure off of our streets because that’s one of the main things we hear as counselors, is traffic and congestion,” he says.
Elford says the expansion plan also includes building improved pathways and cycling paths.
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“We’re going to enhance the area of land that’s been totally unused for many, many years. And that’s going to provide more public access and allow for people to enjoy more parts of the area,” he says.
However, Delta Mayor George Harvie refutes the project and says 84 Avenue will not be expanded into the City of Delta.
“Delta controls Delta; Surrey controls Surrey,” he says, adding, “We would never allow four lanes to go into 84th.”
Harvie says that while Delta will cautiously wait to see what happens, the city may take measures to ensure the flow of traffic does not go down 84 Avenue.
“That’s our social heart there — our recreation centers. It was never in our plans to have four lanes through that area,” he says.
However, Harvie is glad to see that the Surrey plan includes details for a rapid bus, as he believes this would be very useful to members of the North Delta community.
“We’re always trying to get better buses up in North Delta and bus routes, and the ability for people to get onto the new SkyTrain line [King George Station],” he says.
Responding to concerns around the impacts to the City of Delta, Elford says “I’m only really concerned about Surrey, and what’s going on in Surrey. I know that what the community is telling me in Surrey, is that we need to relieve the pressure off of particularly 88th.”
