Expect delays if you need to get through Oak Street in the Marpole neighbourhood over the coming days, with sewer upgrades set to shut lanes in the area starting Thursday night.
The City of Vancouver says its work will be concentrated in the area of Oak Street and West 70th Avenue. It adds the upgrades are necessary, and will result in about a kilometre of new pipes “with a life expectancy of 100 years.”
Aug. 22-27 lane closures
From the evening of Aug. 22 to the evening of Aug. 27, traffic lanes will be reduced to at least one lane in each direction on Oak Street. Through-traffic on 70th Avenue, meanwhile, may also be restricted, the city says.
“There will be significant traffic impacts to the area over these six days, in particular on Oak Street,” the city explained in a release on Aug. 20.
“Traffic control personnel and the VPD will be on-site to manage traffic and assist pedestrians at the intersection during construction.”
Drivers and other road users are being advised to find an alternate route if possible throughout the duration of the work. If you need to get through this area, you’re told to give yourself extra time as delays are expected. This is particularly true for those heading to Vancouver International Airport.
The city says it has chosen to do this work at this time to minimize disruptions over the Labour Day weekend and for back-to-school.
Lane reductions through to spring 2025
Additionally, work will continue after Aug. 27, with further lane reductions along Oak Street between West 70th and West 64th avenues. Until next spring, the city says Oak Street will be down to two lanes in each direction during the day, and down to one lane southbound and two lanes northbound at night, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The city says its sewer upgrades will “support population growth, accommodate heavier rainfall related to climate change, and help protect water quality in the Fraser River.”
Work on the Oak Street sewer upgrades project started in October 2023.
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