Future of Highway 1 expansion unclear

LANGLEY (NEWS 1130) – The future of the Highway 1 expansion through Langley has been thrown into uncertainty after the province refused to confirm if the project is still a go.

The NDP says it supports work already underway to expand the commuter route between 202nd and 216th Streets, but wasn’t clear about the future of going all the way to 264th in phase two of the project.

“Any future projects on Highway 1 will be announced at a future date,” a statement from the province says.

With congestion tying up drivers for hours a day, an uptick in accidents and trucks hitting the lower-than-normal Glover Road overpass, the project is too high a priority, according to interim Liberal leader Rich Coleman.

“I don’t think there would be a lot of stomach for this project to be cancelled given the challenges it’s presenting with regards to congestion and safety,” he said.

The previous Liberal government committed $113 million in March to expand the highway to six lanes between 216th and 264th Streets. The province was seeking the remaining half of the funding from the federal government.

“It’s funded through capital money as it comes through and approvals come through so (the NDP) may have been cautious in what they’re saying but there’s been no indication to me that they’re going to stop that project,” Coleman said.

The NDP is reviewing several transportation projects promised by the former Liberal government and has canceled others, including the controversial Massey Tunnel bridge.

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