Those who commute in, out, and around New Westminster should expect major delays through the summer.
Due to the Pattullo Bridge replacement project, Front Street is closed for six months starting this week.
President and CEO of the BC Trucking Association says the street is a major route for semi-trucks, and any closures can create delays to the supply chain.
“All of these things, these incremental pieces where there’s minutes here, minutes there, turn into hours here and hours there,” he explained. They all slow down the supply chain. They all make it more expensive and ultimately it’s you and I that pay the cost of congestion.”
Earle says dispatchers will do their best to adapt to the months-long closure and ensuing backups.
“The whole supply chain will adapt, but these things, they all slow down the chain.”
Meanwhile, for commuters in the area, CityNews traffic anchor Alex Carrigan suggests drivers may want to bypass that area of New Westminster altogether.
“It is going to be tough to estimate [how bad the traffic will get], but I will say that we’re gonna have a lot more bad days than good days,” he said. “It’s going to put a lot more traffic on routes like Carnarvon, and Colombia, and Royal is going to be holding a lot of that extra traffic.”
Carrigan suggests that drivers may want to take 10th Avenue or McBride if they’re coming from Kingsway.
“Really, avoiding the Pattullo Bridge is not a bad option, but avoiding that section of New West is not going to be a good option for a lot of drivers … this is going to be a bit of a tough one to avoid.”
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