Glover Road overpass in Langley, B.C., to be replaced as part of Highway 1 expansion

Construction is set to begin on theexpansionofa stretch of Highway 1 inLangley, B.C.

At a press conference Thursday, B.C.Ministerof TransportationRob Fleming announcedthe project will begin with increasing the height oftheGlover Road crossing.

Changes to the crossing are part of the government's commitmentto widenHighway 1 by adding a new lane in each direction between 216th and 264th streets.

"These needed upgrades will help get goods moving smoothly along this important trade corridor and make it easier for people to get to work and back home again to their families," saidFleming.

Truckers have raised concerns after a number of commercial trucks carrying oversized loadshit overpasses along B.C. highways.

In July,a cherry-picker truck crashed into the Glover Road overpass of Highway 1 in Langley. The bridge has a sign listing its lowest height as 4.46 metres.

Once upgrades arecompleted, the overpass will sit at a minimum height of5.2 metresto provide more clearance for commercial trucks, Fleming said.

A nearby CP Rail overhead and the 232ndStreet interchange will also be replaced with higher structures,the province said.

The Glover Road crossing is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024. Work on other elements, such as the addition of extra lanes, is expected to start by spring 2023.

The federal government will contribute nearly $96million to the project, while B.C. is committing more than $225million and the Township of Langley is adding another $23million.