A sewer project in downtown New Westminster that has caused concerns with business owners and city council members has now closed the road for the next four days.
“Due to sewer construction, a full road closure of the 700 and 800 blocks of Columbia St in @New_Westminster will be in effect Feb 16 – 19,” reads a tweet by Metro Vancouver. “Please use alternate routes and follow signage and the direction of traffic control personnel.”
The New Westminster interceptor transports sewage from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, most of Burnaby and parts of New Westminster to the treatment plant in Delta. Phase 1 of the upgrading project was expected to be completed in 2021, with any work that couldn’t be completed by the fall of 2021 being finished at a later date, but the project is still ongoing.
“It doesn’t appear to be much visual progress on the project,” said Coun. Patrick Johnstone at a meeting on Monday. “The pile of pipes does not seem to be getting much smaller.”
On Monday, council approved an exemption to the city’s construction noise bylaw so the contractor can conduct maintenance of the existing sewer, install new utility holes and do sliplining (installing pipes into existing pipes) related to the project along Columbia Street. The overnight work will be done over eight nights from Feb. 15 to March 10.
Johnstone said he’d like updates on three aspects of the project: when does Metro Vancouver expect to finish the work and be off the road; what is being done to accelerate that work or ensure the work isn’t further delayed; and is any mitigation being considered for downtown businesses and residents in light of the project delays.
- With additional reporting by Theresa McManus
