STATUS OF BRIDGE

• Pile driving began and we started with a 60’ length of pipe. Pile driving may continue from 2-5 days.

ROAD ADJUSTMENTS

• Rush hours are starting earlier on the roads and bridges, and while still busy, we see traffic on the main roads moving steadily once off the spans.
• People are getting the message about spreading out their commuting times. On the Port Mann, we see it starting at around 1:30 pm in the afternoon for the ride home.
• This morning we saw westbound traffic start at 4:00am-4:30am and the buildup started from the feeder roads at that point. Alex Fraser commuters are starting earlier in both directions as well, and it was reported that the flow was quite smooth off the bridge.
• The Queensborough is still heavy and the most congested during the rush.. There are two tow trucks around Queensborough to help folks in a jam.
• We’re seeing longer, spread-out am commutes, ending at 9:30am.
• We advise drivers to choose Hwy 15 ( 176th ) over 152nd when heading for the #1, in order to avoid bottlenecks. There are some bottle-necks occurring at #10 Highway feeding onto the 99.

TRANSIT ADJUSTMENTS

SKYTRAIN

• Last night it was very busy at the Columbia and Lougheed stations. We had a medical emergency at Metrotown but trains were moving again in about 10 minutes. Very heavy loads from 4-6 pm from Waterfront to Broadway Stations
• We’re seeing a noticeable increase inbound from Surrey Central. Scott Road is building consistently as well.
• “Turnback” trains are in use at Scott Road, to help alleviate crowding outside of Surrey (this is in addition to the turnbacks already being used between Waterfront and Broadway stations in the morning peak period)
• Rush hour last night went up to 8pm. This was a solid indicator that people are getting the messages about spreading their commuting times around on transit.
• Last night we operated all 59 trains.
• This morning, we operated 60 trains, a new record. The loading started heavy at 5:00am and was busy till 7:55am during the morning rush.
• Our passenger counts are building and we anticipate 1000 per hour during the am rush hours. Very much busier today
• People are travelling later in the am and going home later in the pm, so our riders are spreading the commute out. Again, the word is getting out.
• Service now starts service at 4:30 AM from Surrey on weekdays (regular service will operate on weekends). All available cars are being used and rush hour service is extended as needed.
• Again, bicycles are temporarily banned from trains due to the growing number of riders on transit and safety concerns about blocked exits. SkyTrain is very aware of the difficulties placed on our cyclists and are re-evaluating this decision daily.

CMBC

• We are adding in shuttle buses during the am and pm peak from Guilford area to Gateway Station. In order to turn the buses around we will be routing 108 Ave, north 135 Street, west 107A ave, north 132 Street.
• The new #388 22nd St. Station bus, which runs in peak periods to and from Walnut Grove, now stops at Scott Road Station, anticipating that the Alex Fraser Bridge may have additional congestion. Those who normally take the #388 to or from 22nd St. Station may take SkyTrain to Scott Road.
• Again, we’ve instituted a “belt loop” route, circulating through North Surrey/Whalley between Gateway Station and Guildford
• A reminder: regular fares apply on all bus routes, and may be used to transfer to SkyTrain and other buses in Metro Vancouver during the 90-minute time limit.

PARK & RIDE

• In providing the free temporary Park & Ride spots, we remove all signage restrictions where possible. However, these do not do not include parking in front of fire hydrants or driveways. Please obey all traffic regulations.
• We haven’t really seen any additional utilization at the Front Street Park & Ride in New Westminster. Police are patrolling that lot as they are patrolling all our temporary Park & Ride spots in Surrey. Cost is $6 between 6am and 6pm and $2 between 6pm and 6am.
• A reminder that the City of Surrey has opened nearly 500 free temporary park and ride spaces in addition to existing facilities:
  • 176th St. and 63rd Ave. (Cloverdale Fairgrounds). An express bus will run to King George SkyTrain Station 5:30-8:30am and 3:30-6:30pm.
  • Along 110th Ave. near Scott Road Station
  • Near 103rd Ave. on West Whalley Ring Road near Surrey Central Station
  • Also, opening Friday, Jan. 23, at Hilton Rd. & Grosvenor in Surrey, near 108th Avenue and convenient to the “belt loop” bus; walking distance (3-4 blocks) from Gateway Station.
  • Also new! Available Friday morning for the duration of the bridge closure (425 spaces): Home Depot site at Scott Road station – approximately 175 paved parking spaces and 250 grass lot spaces.
  • South Surrey Park and Ride has an extra 10 available as well.

We encourage people to pre-buy their tickets when possible. You can purchase discounted books of ten FareSavers for one, two or three-zone travel at most major grocery stores and at other retail locations around the Lower Mainland. (Try our online FareDealer location tool to find the FareDealer nearest you!)

As well, developing these alternate services has been a combined effort of the various teams that make transit services run in Metro Vancouver: planning and scheduling, service delivery, vehicle maintenance, security and customer service.

More information – including a detailed description of the “belt loop” route, locations of park and rides around Metro Vancouver and locations of bike storage facilities at SkyTrain stations – can be found at the TransLink website or by calling Customer Information at (604) 953-3333.

As always, thank you to everyone for for your patience and understanding through this. Remember, you can also check out our Customer Alerts page or the Youtube info stream for more info.