Motorists can expect closures on the Cst. Roger Pierlet overpass to slow down traffic for the next six months, as a Highway 15 construction project to repair the southbound portion of the bridge gets underway.
Traffic is down to single lanes in both directions on the overpass, a four-lane rail crossing on Highway 15 (176 Street bypass) south of Highway 10 (56 Avenue) in Cloverdale.
Officials with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said underlying soft soils and decomposition have caused materials used in the construction of the roadway leading up to the bridge to settle.
That’s created bumps in the road that need to be repaired on the southbound structure; familiar landmarks to anyone who uses the four-lane, U.S. border route on a regular basis.
The remediation work began earlier this month and is expected be complete in spring 2015.
Throughout the project, traffic will detour along the adjacent northbound bridge, allowing the highway to remain open.
While the ministry conducted a detailed traffic analysis to ensure the impact on traffic would remain at an acceptable level, motorists are advised to expect delays at times, particularly at peak traffic periods.
Ministry officials said, “We appreciate everyone’s patience during this construction period.”
The ministry worked with the design builder to develop and implement the remediation plan to fix the bridge.
The Cst. Roger Pierlet Overhead is dedicated in memory of a Surrey RCMP member who was shot and killed near the site in 1974 while on duty.
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