Construction will soon begin on a new roundabout in Port Kells.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke and councillor Mike Bose grabbed shovels Feb. 13 for a groundbreaking ceremony at 88th Avenue and Harvie Road.
The often busy four way stop—which is actually the juncture of five roads with 189th Street tucked in the northwest corner by the library—will be converted into a roundabout. Construction is set to start within a couple of weeks and is anticipated to conclude before the summer.
“If you've driven through this area during peak times, you will know that traffic gets very backed up at this intersection causing frustration and long delays," Locke told the Cloverdale Reporter. “The new roundabout will reduce congestion and support future growth in the heart of Port Kells.”
She noted that in addition to the improved traffic routes, the roundabout and surrounding roads will have new sidewalks and improved access for pedestrians. She also said the island in the roundabout will have landscaping and public art that will enhance the look for both residents and motorists.
“It's going to improve road safety," she added. "This project is not only necessary, but long overdue."
Councillor Mike Bose said he was happy to see the project “finally” being undertaken and agreed with the mayor that it was long overdue for Port Kells.
“This is a very busy intersection and with the five roads coming in, it can be confusing—especially in rush hour,” Bose said. “So this is going to go a long way in smoothing out the flow of traffic through here and it will alleviate a lot of the congestion.”
Bose added it’s more important than ever with the growth of the city combined with Surrey’s interconnectedness with Langley.
Victor Jhingan, director of the engineering department’s project delivery group for the city, said the project will cost about $2 million and should take about three months or so to complete. He said the roundabout is a small part of hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in projects taking place in the city.
"We did look at a number of options to see what would be the most optimal intersection design, traffic light or roundabout,” Jhingan added. “What we found was that a roundabout for this intersection would be the most efficient for traffic flow."
Jhingan said although traffic will continue to move through the area while construction is underway, the city is advising residents and those who regularly travel along 88th or Harvie to find an alternate route for the next couple of months.
Mayor Locke added the city spoke with many in the Port Kells community and most residents are looking forward to seeing the roundabout go in.
"This is all part of the growth of our city,” Locke added. "We're seeing extraordinary road work happening throughout Surrey—more than ... any other city in the metro region. It's all part of our commitment to keeping people moving, growing our community, and supplying the kind of infrastructure that we need for what is going to be the largest city in British Columbia."
Visit surrey.ca/harvieroad for more info.
