Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project

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Traffic Safety

The PMH1 Project has been designed to address some of the safety deficiencies of the current highway, which, built in the 1960s, was not designed to accommodate the growth in Metro Vancouver’s population and employment. The Project includes:

  • Safety improvements at some of the region’s most challenging interchanges, like the Willingdon Interchange, which currently is the top crash location in British Columbia.
  • Longer merge lanes at interchanges to make entering and exiting the highway safer and more efficient.
  • Re-grading to improve sightlines.
  • Improved safety and traffic flow on the new bridge by separating local traffic between Coquitlam and Surrey from through-traffic travelling along the Highway 1 corridor.

Safety During Construction

Construction Speed Zones

Safety is a key priority of the PMH1 Project. The primary focus will be to keep traffic on Highway 1 moving safely and efficiently while construction occurs. To do this, the Highway 1 project corridor is a designated construction zone.  The construction speeds are as follows:

  • 70 km/h - between the Cassiar Tunnel in Vancouver and Grandview Highway in Burnaby
  • 80 km/h - between Grandview Highway in Burnaby and 208 Street in Langley
  • The posted speed limit between 208 Street - 216 Street will remain 100 km/hr until construction begins in that area.

New signs have been installed and drivers are reminded that fines double in construction zones.  Please use caution when travelling in construction zones.

Temporary Changes to the HOV Regulations

Changes have been made to the HOV-lane regulations.  As part of improving traffic flow and reducing delays related to construction, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Highway 1 will be open to all traffic between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. This temporary adjustment applies to HOV lanes between Grandview Highway and the Port Mann Bridge (both east and westbound) for the balance of construction.

This HOV schedule adjustment is in place to minimize delays during nighttime lane closures, which are required for the widening of Highway 1 and rebuilding of several overpass and interchange structures.