Delta Highway 17A overpass repairs delayed: ministry

The provincial government has rescheduled repairs of a Delta overpass to the new year, after calls made by community members.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced Thursday evening it will push repairs to the Highway 17A overpass on Highway 99, south of the Massey Tunnel, to prevent traffic impacts during the holiday season.

“After hearing of additional concerns about traffic impacts over the holiday season, we’re taking our cue from those most affected by construction and are delaying this work until the new year,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Mayor of Delta and the Delta Chamber of Commerce released statements on Thursday asking the ministry not to go ahead with the proposed work.

It said it feared the required road closures could hurt businesses in Ladner, Tilbury, and surrounding areas hoping to score big in the lead-in to the holidays.

“This delay will support our businesses during the busy season and allow ministry staff, city staff, TransLink, and community stakeholders to work together on finding alternative routes to mitigate traffic concerns,” said George V. Harvie, mayor of Delta.

The overpass was damaged on July 18, when an over-height vehicle struck the underpass, ripping up steel, concrete, and wiring as it went. Repairs will be extensive and involve demolition and girder installation, the ministry states.

To accommodate the rescheduling, the work will now be done over a 12-week period instead of the initial eight-week plan, to allow for winter weather. The new estimated completion date is now early April, which was an important timeline identified by local farmers, the ministry states.

“The Highway 17A overpass is a critical connection for our community, especially our agricultural community. I look forward to the completion of repairs in time for the increased farming activity in the spring,” Harvie said.

The repairs were supposed to begin Thursday evening, but the ministry has now pushed the start date to January 2024. A more specific repair schedule will be communicated closer to the start date.

Editor’s note: The province’s website says that, as of Jan. 5, 2024, the work will take up to eight weeks, depending on the weather.