Lougheed Highway widening complete between Maple Ridge and Mission
A major Lougheed Highway widening project east of Maple Ridge is now complete, eliminating the last two-lane, undivided section of the highway connecting to Mission.
B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Transit announced Aug. 24 that improvements to approximately four kilometres of Lougheed Highway between 266th and 287th streets have been completed.
The more than $130-million project expanded the stretch from two lanes to four, added a median barrier and wider shoulders, and constructed new turnaround facilities.
The province says the work is expected to reduce congestion and improve travel times and safety along a key route used by Maple Ridge residents travelling east toward Mission and the Fraser Valley.
“Anyone who regularly travels between Maple Ridge and Mission knows how important this stretch of Highway 7 is to residents, businesses and the regional economy,” Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy said. “Completing these improvements means less time spent in traffic, safer trips and a better experience for the thousands of people who rely on this route every day.”
The project is particularly significant for Maple Ridge because its completion means Lougheed Highway is now four lanes throughout the corridor between Maple Ridge and Mission, removing a longstanding bottleneck where the highway previously narrowed to two lanes.
The wider shoulders also aim to better accommodate cyclists and other active transportation users, with a median barrier separating oncoming traffic. New turnaround facilities were added to improve access and traffic operations.
Lisa Beare, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, said the improvements will help Highway 7 accommodate increasing traffic volumes as communities along the corridor continue to grow.
“Completing these improvements means safer, more reliable travel, reduced congestion and better connections between Maple Ridge, Mission and communities throughout the region,” Beare said on behalf of Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth.
The federal government contributed nearly $31 million to the project, with the province covering the remainder.
Work was carried out in collaboration with Kwantlen First Nation, including habitat restoration partnerships and a cultural recognition initiative.
Kwantlen artwork was installed on a retaining wall overlooking Lougheed Highway, with the design intended to recognize the First Nation’s connection to the lands and its history and stewardship in the area.
Mission Mayor Paul Horn described the previously two-lane section as a longstanding source of congestion for people travelling through the region.
“For years, this stretch of highway has been a bottleneck and a source of frustration for drivers,” Horn said. “Completing these improvements means safer, more predictable travel so we spend less time in our cars.”
Ruimy said additional transportation infrastructure will become increasingly important as Maple Ridge grows.
“As our community continues to grow, investments in transportation infrastructure like this help ensure people can stay connected to jobs, services and opportunities across the region,” he said.
