Metro Vancouver’s roadwork season is in full swing—and yup, it means lane squeezes, detours, and Spotify playlists on loop while you crawl. These infrastructure builds aren’t fun, but they’re shaping our city’s future. Here are six of the biggest headaches right now (in new order), plus a surprise addition you might’ve missed.
Metro Vancouver Construction Projects To Watch This Summer
1. Steveston Interchange (Richmond)
This Highway 99 upgrade—turning a two‑lane stretch into a five‑lane interchange—requires overnight full closures to install huge girders. Drivers heading to Tsawwassen Ferry have been getting stuck in the slow lane plenty of late nights.
2. Pattullo Bridge Replacement (New Westminster / Surrey)
A shiny new cable‑stayed bridge is rising, scheduled to open late 2025. Until then, expect rolling closures on the old Pattullo Bridge and nearby Front and Columbia Streets for deck work and site prep.
3. Kensington Exit Closure (Burnaby)
The westbound off‑ramp at Highway 1 onto Kensington Ave is completely closed 24/7 through August 31, plus one lane on Kensington itself is shut. If you normally hop off there, prepare for detours via Gaglardi or Willingdon.
4. Main Street Promise Project (Downtown Vancouver)
Ongoing since January 2025, Main Street between 5th and 15th is undergoing a major street redesign. Expect road and sidewalk construction through the summer to improve pedestrian safety and street connectivity—this one’s more than just traffic headaches.
5. Royal Avenue Pump Station Upgrade (New Westminster)
Though not always on radar, this essential pump station renovation is impacting streets like Sixth and 8th Avenues through Fall 2025. If you’ve been navigating New West this summer—expect detours and narrowed lanes.
6. Broadway Subway Extension (Vancouver)
The Millennium Line extension pushes west to Arbutus, now launching fall 2027, delayed from a 2025 target. West Broadway has frequently shrunk to one lane each way this summer to support station and tunnel work. Local businesses are still feeling the pinch.
These projects are major regional upgrades, funded by TransLink and local municipalities, and often overlap between jurisdictions—so detours and partial closures are unavoidable. The upside? Smoother commutes and improved transit in the long run.
To stay sane, plan around overnight closures, check DriveBC and city alerts, and mix in transit or biking whenever possible.
