The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will delay scheduled repairs to the Highway 17A overpass at Highway 99 until next year.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced Friday that following additional consultation, the province, alongside the City of Delta and other local stakeholders, has decided to reschedule repairs until 2024.
“Four months after the initial damage, we are ready to go at anytime with repairs to the Highway 17A crossing,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, in a news release. “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 repairs require lane closures and detours, and concerns were raised by Delta’s business community about the effect to businesses during the important holiday season, the ministry notes.
Due to the concerns, the ministry says it has worked with Delta to reschedule repairs to begin in January. Work will be scheduled over a 12-week period instead of the eight-week plan to allow for winter weather. The work is now expected to be complete by early April, which was an important timeline identified by the local farming community.
Delta Mayor George Harvie earlier today issued a statement that they were seeking alternative solutions.
The Delta Chamber of Commerce this week raised concern about potential negative impacts on businesses in Ladner, Tilbury and the surrounding region.
Primerose Greek Restaurant owner Sia Adjudani also wrote to Fleming urging for a delay.
The overpass was badly damaged July 18 after an over height truck smashed into the south end of the structure, resulting in $1.4 million in damage.
