The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce has provided its input into the province’s 10-year transportation plan.
The city has also recently approved a report from staff outlining the first priority as widening Highway 1 to six lanes between 264th Street and Whatcom Road, stretching about the length of Abbotsford.
That is followed by improvements to Mt. Lehman Road between Highway 1 and the Abbotsford International Airport boundary and a railway overpass at an urban arterial road with a location to be determined.
The fourth priority is the widening of Fraser Highway to five lanes between Station Road and Mt. Lehman Road.
The chamber has also identified these areas but also has noted the need to upgrade 16th Avenue from the Abbotsford Airport to Highway 99, stating that it is vital to have a safe, efficient east-west connector to service the needs of the southern part of the Fraser Valley. This has been a priority identified by Abbotsford, Langley and Surrey and is also a policy initiative of the BC Chamber of Commerce.
“As the province’s fifth-largest city, and one of the most affordable areas in which to live in the Lower Mainland, we know the demands on the transportation capabilities of our city will continue to increase,” chamber president Mike Welte said.
“It is imperative that we start to plan ahead and start to take action on these priorities with a strong sense of urgency.”
Ministry of Transportation officials are consulting First Nations, local government, transportation authorities and other community leaders across the province, all of which will be considered in the development of the provincial 10-year transportation plan.