VANCOUVER: Residents, businesses and commuters should prepare for traffic congestion in the coming months as FortisBC begins gas line construction this spring.
The 20-kilometre natural gas line, running from Vancouver to Coquitlam, has been a vital piece of the natural gas system for 60 years; however, the time has come to replace it to ensure safe and reliable service to 210,000 FortisBC customers in the Lower Mainland.
"We recognize that any urban infrastructure project - whether it's a sewer or water line replacement, or a gas line upgrade like this project - will cause some disruption for residents and commuters during construction," said Douglas Stout, vice-president, market development and external relations at FortisBC. "That's why we're closely engaged with Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and TransLink to mitigate those impacts, while keeping the public up to date so they can plan ahead and adjust their routines if needed."
The most significant construction impacts this year will be along East 1st Avenue in Vancouver, which is scheduled to be fully closed between Clark Drive and Nanaimo Street this summer from mid-June to August 31st. East 1st Ave. will also see partial lane closures between Nanaimo Street and Boundary Road once construction begins later this spring.
"We know there will be congestion, so we appreciate commuters' patience and encourage them to plan for extra time to reach their destinations," Stout said. "FortisBC will work as safely and quickly as possible to reduce the impact of our construction."
The new line will improve the safety and reliability of the system while increasing capacity as Lower Mainland communities continue to grow. The existing 20-inch pipe between Vancouver and Coquitlam will be upgraded to 30-inch pipe. Existing facilities at Mariner Way and Spuraway Avenue in Coquitlam and at East 2nd Avenue and Woodland Drive in Vancouver will also be improved to serve the new line and the customers who depend on it. Three hundred metres of gas line in south Vancouver will also be replaced.
