It has been a few years since the announcement of the plans to replace the 62-year old George Massey Tunnel. The project has been progressing slowly, but it now seems to have made a significant leap forward.
The B.C. government has just selected the team that will be designing the new eight-lane tunnel beneath the Fraser River.
Although the project itself will take another decade to complete, this is a major milestone for moving forward.
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The Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Rob Fleming provided an update on July 23, 2024.
He confirms that the design phase for the new tunnel will advance with the selection of the developer, Cross Fraser Partnership. It is also confirmed that the tunnel is on track to be fully open sometime in 2030 at the latest.
At 629m long, the Massey Tunnel sees on average 80,000 vehicle trips a day. It is an extremely busy route that is often congested during traffic hours.
The new crossing will replace the George Massey Tunnel with an eight-lane immersed tube tunnel that is toll-free.
The new tunnel will have three general-purpose lanes and a dedicated public transit lane in each direction.
It will also include a separate multi-use path for walking, biking, and other active transportation options.
In addition to the new eight-lane tunnel, the new five-lane Steveston Interchange is currently under construction.
In the past month, crews have already started erecting the 21 concrete girders that will support the first half of the new interchange.
Traffic on Steveston Highway will soon be shifted to the new structure, and the old overpass will be removed. The Steveston Interchange Project is on track for completion in 2025.
