It may look like chaos now but what is the future for Port Mann/Highway 1, the King Edward overpass and United Boulevard when construction in the area is complete?
That's the question the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce hopes to answer for business owners, especially those in the Pacific Reach Business Park, when it hosts a transportation forum Wednesday, April 20 at the Red Robinson Theatre.
For the past several months, local businesses and commuters have been dealing with construction for the $26.5-billion Gateway Program (including Port Mann/Highway 1), on target for completion December 2013, as well as the King Edward overpass construction, which is supposed to be finished this fall.
The chamber's executive director, Michael Hind, said business owners in the area, as well as many shoppers and commuters, are frustrated with construction and detours, and he hopes they'll feel better once they see the big picture and understand what the construction projects will do to improve transportation in the area.
"You know there's issues down there, you know United Boulevard merchants are hurting," Hind said. "We're trying to provide information for businesses in the area and the public and everyone who wants to know more about what's going."
The chamber has brought together some heavy hitters he hopes will lay out the project plans and expectations when construction is completed in the coming years.
The program will consist of a description and outline of the three projects presented by each of the three project owners:
TI Corp./Kiewit Flatiron, responsible for Gateway;
the city of Coquitlam, which is responsible for the King Edward overpass;
and Translink, which is working on the North Fraser Perimeter project, which includes the proposed United Boulevard extension into New Westminster.
The presentations will be followed by an opportunity to look at displays and ask questions of the presenters.
The transportation forum will take place at the Red Robinson Show Theatre at the Boulevard Casino from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 20. It is free and open to the public but registration is required at the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce website (www.tricitieschamber.com) to reserve a seat.
