Brace yourself.
If you think traffic along the busy North Road corridor in Coquitlam is already bad most hours of the day, be prepared for more gridlock.
In the coming weeks, Metro Vancouver will begin construction on an $8-million project to up-size the sewer line to handle 15,000 more people, as well as businesses, in Coquitlam and Burnaby.
On Monday, Sept. 25, representatives from the regional sewer and water authority brought Coquitlam city councillors up to speed on Phase 2 of the three-step North Road sewer project, which has been six years in the planning.
A section from Brunette River to Lougheed Highway was done in 2020 and a portion over the Burlington North Railway line will be done some time in 2024-25.
But the most significant section along the busy corridor will soon begin, according to speakers at Coquitlam's committee of council.
Metro Vancouver's Colin Meldrum and Joan Liu said this project will take approximately 18 months to complete, and will include excavation, pipe replacement and restoration along the North Road corridor from Lougheed Highway to Clarke Road.
Meldrum said the work will be done a section at a time, with a "bypass" installed so sewage waste can continue to flow to the Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The North Road Sewer pipe collects sewage from Burnaby and Coquitlam and the project will replace the existing aging sewer with a larger, much higher capacity sewer to handle increased flows from the growing neighbourhood.
However, it is not to be confused with the Stoney Creek Sanitary Trunk Sewer, where there have been concerns about overflows, and which is undergoing planning for an upgrade, council was told.
Daytime, night time work
While most of the work on the North Road sewer project will be done during the daytime, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., nighttime work from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. will take place in three sections along the route:
- at Austin Avenue
- at Gatineau Place
- between Cottonwood Avenue and Foster Avenue
As well, drivers and pedestrians will notice some changes.
As the project advances along North Road from south to north, there will be intermittent lane and road closures, as well as temporary detours at times.
There will also be parking, access and sidewalk restrictions; however, local access will be maintained throughout construction.
A communications plan is already in the works, with neighbouring residents and businesses informed via emails and newsletters.
Signs will also be placed along the route.
Those with concerns or questions can contact:
- Community Liaison: 604-432-6200
- After Hours Emergency: 604-451-6610
- Email: [email protected]
- include "North Road Sewer" in the subject line
