by Kelvin Gawley, Abbotsford News
The widening of Highway 1 between Langley and Abbotsford won’t come cheap for taxpayers.
Adding lanes to the 17.5-kilometre four-lane stretch of Highway 1 between Langley and Abbotsford would cost approximately $70 million if a price tag of $4 million per kilometre is applied.
The province has budgeted $16 million to widen four kilometers of Highway 1 between 202 Street and an under-construction interchange at 216 Street.
The City of Abbotsford has asked the province to widen the route from four lanes to six from Whatcom Road to Langley.
Planning for such a project is expected to start next year as part of a 10-year proposal but it will likely be another year after that before residents will have a chance to see a plan.
Widening the highway along the 15.5 kilometre stretch between the top of Mt. Lehman and Whatcom Road – which is four lanes in parts and five in others – could cost even more because of the number of interchanges and overpasses.
However, the figure of $4 million per kilometre is not a uniform cost and not for all projects, said Ministry of Transport spokesperson Kate Mukasa in an email.
“There are topographic, geotechnical and property factors that can result in very significant variances in construction cost.”