Highway 91/91A - Updates

Construction Update – June 4, 2008

QUEENSBOROUGH INTERCHANGE

MAJOR TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGES TO TAKE EFFECT JUNE 23, 2008:

On Monday, June 23, 2008, traffic pattern changes will affect Marine Way, 20th Street, 6th Avenue and the Queensborough Bridge in New Westminster as the new configuration of the Queensborough Interchange is put into service. Click on the links below for detailed illustrations of the described movements (PDF document will open in a new window).

The following movements will be eliminated:

• Southbound 20th Street to westbound Marine Way
• Southbound 20th Street to eastbound Marine/Stewardson Way
• Westbound Marine/Stewardson Way to 20th Street
• Westbound 6th Avenue to Marine Way

Direct accesses to both 20th Street and 6th Avenue from eastbound Marine Way were previously eliminated and will not be restored.

The following movements will remain, but will follow modified alignments:

• Southbound 20th Street to Queensborough Bridge
• Southbound 20th Street to 6th Avenue
• Westbound 6th Avenue to Queensborough Bridge
• Westbound 6th Avenue to northbound 20th Street
• Westbound Stewardson Way to Queensborough Bridge
• Westbound Stewardson Way to Westbound Marine Way
• Northbound Queensborough Bridge to 20th Street
• Northbound Queensborough Bridge to 6th Avenue
• Northbound Queensborough Bridge to westbound Marine Way

The following existing movements will remain essentially unchanged:

• Northbound Queensborough Bridge to eastbound Marine/Stewardson Way
• Eastbound Marine Way to eastbound Stewardson Way
• Eastbound Marine Way to southbound Queensborough Bridge (has already been on new alignment for several weeks)
• Cycling/pedestrian routes, which were revised earlier this spring. Some areas will remain inaccessible until all construction is completed.

As of June 23, please approach the interchange as if you are driving the route for the first time. Pay close attention to signage, as some movements will be very different from those you may be used to. Click for:

1. Final interchange layout & movements – at a glance
2. 20th Street/6th Avenue Intersection Detail

With the elimination of direct movements between Marine/Stewardson Way and 20th Street and 6th Avenue, Marine/Stewardson Way traffic can access the Uptown and Downtown areas of New Westminster via Royal Avenue. Motorists accustomed to using 20th Street to reach westbound Marine Way can use Southridge Drive and Byrne Road.

Construction Update – April 11, 2008

QUEENSBOROUGH INTERCHANGE

The pedestrian crossing of Stewardson Way at 6th Avenue in New Westminster will be closed permanently on April 21, 2008. The nearest crossing is located at 5th Avenue, slightly to the east. For pedestrians walking to and from the nearby SkyTrain station, there is a new sidewalk along the south side of Stewardson Way that connects to the new pedestrian route on the north end of the Queensborough Bridge leading to 22nd Street.

Construction on the north side of Stewardson Way will also close the trail between the railway tracks and Grimston Park for several weeks. A pedestrian detour using 18th Street and 7th Avenue will be marked.

Also beginning April 21, up to a month of night-time lane reductions will affect all traffic on the Queensborough Bridge. Southbound traffic will be merged into a single lane as it enters the bridge during the hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Meanwhile, traffic on the north-to-eastbound off-ramp will be reduced to a single lane from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Various other construction activities causing lane shifts and night-time lane reductions will continue to affect traffic throughout the Queensborough Interchange work zone. Motorists are asked to allow extra time, exercise caution and obey signage and traffic control personnel.

Construction Update – March 27, 2008

QUEENSBOROUGH INTERCHANGE

Beginning March 31, 2008, left-turn access to both 20th Street and 6th Avenue will be eliminated for eastbound Marine Way traffic that originates west of the Queensborough Interchange. This previously-delayed access closure is a permanent change. Marine Way traffic from the west wishing to access 20th Street or the Uptown area of New Westminster should follow Byrne Road to Southridge Drive and 10th Avenue. Please note that this change does not affect traffic from the Queensborough Bridge, which will continue to be able to access both 20th Street and 6th Avenue directly. Meanwhile, straight-through eastbound Marine Way traffic will use only the “lower” road, which will lead to the newly-widened pavement on the east side of the interchange.

Temporary lane shifts in various parts of the interchange will continue to be a daily occurrence, as will night-time lane reductions. Further permanent traffic pattern changes will occur later this spring. Until that time, there may be brief intermittent stoppages and localized detours.