The new Nelson Road/Highway 91 interchange -- which cost all three levels of government a total of $23 million -- opened on Monday.
Through the murk of the unseasonable pouring rain, Richmond's municipal, provincial and federal politicians gathered to officially open up the interchange, which extends Nelson Road north past Westminster Highway to Highway 91.
The move is designed to "streamline truckers' access to Port Metro Vancouver," thus reducing congestion on Westminster Highway for local residents and farmers.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie suggested that the new interchange will be nothing but good news for Richmond.
"This new interchange represents a vital link for our community, region, province and country," Brodie said.
"It will bring hundreds of new jobs to Richmond and millions of dollars of new trade and investment to B.C. and Canada. It will also improve our community mobility and quality of life by significantly reducing truck travel along Westminster Highway."
The new interchange is also forecast to:
- Provide improved access to Port Metro Vancouver and greatly reduce heavy truck traffic on Westminster Highway west of Nelson Road by diverting it to Highway 91.
- Reduce traffic bottlenecks on Westminster Highway, increase traffic safety and improve the movement of goods and people.
- Lessen congestion for farmers and improve farming operations because industrial truck traffic will no longer use Westminster Highway between No. 6 and Nelson roads.
The $23-million project created about 150 jobs during construction and was funded by the federal government ($6.4 million), the B.C. government ($6.4 million), Port Metro Vancouver ($8 million), while the city pumped in more than $2 million.
"About half of the traffic accessing Nelson Road each day is truck traffic," said Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond East on behalf of Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom.
"Giving truckers a better route to Port Metro Vancouver will help them stay on time and reduce traffic on Westminster Highway making life easier and safer for families and farmers."
Port Metro Vancouver's CEO, Robin Silvester said the road will help the port serve as a major economic generator for B.C.
