Adanac overpass will soon re-open to private vehicles. A date for the removal of restrictions and barriers hasn’t been set yet, but it’s expected to take place in coming weeks.
Access to the Rupert Street southbound connection will also revert to transit vehicles only soon after the overpass is re-opened.
The City of Vancouver closed the overpass from Highway 1 to Cassiar temporarily in the spring of last year so drivers wouldn’t use it as a shortcut into and out of the city while Fortis B.C. was upgrading its underground gas line along East First Avenue.
Only buses, cyclists, emergency vehicles and pedestrians were allowed through.
Some residents had also voiced concerns about non-local traffic along the route — it's popular for drivers trying to avoid taking East First or Hastings over the highway — so the city was treating the closure as a trial with the possibility of it becoming permanent.
Staff collected data about traffic volumes and how the use of the overpass impacted the area. City staff also heard from residents on both the east and west side of the overpass regarding the temporary closure, as well as others further away. Overall, the city collected about 750 pieces of feedback between December 2017 and January 2018, and spoke with between 500 and 600 people.
The feedback included:
- some residents felt Adanac Street and nearby streets were safer, particularly for children, because of the decrease in traffic
- reports that there was an increase in the number of vehicles along streets, such as Skeena and Pender, connecting to Hastings between Boundary Road and Renfrew Street
- reports of some vehicles continuing to use the overpass despite restrictions and enforcement by the Vancouver Police Department
- some interest in removing restrictions to the overpass to improve connections between the east and west sections of the overpass
- some interest in exploring options to reduce traffic volume and speed in the area
- positive feelings from residents west of the overpass regarding the temporary removal of personal vehicle restrictions on the Rupert Street southbound connection
This spring, the community will be consulted about options to deal with concerns about traffic volumes and speeding in the neighbourhood. More information can be found on the city website HERE.
“The city will be reaching out to the community to more formally consult and weigh a few options. Staff anticipate at least one option that would keep the overpass open and another that would close the overpass to private vehicles,” Dale Bracewell, branch manager of transportation planning, told the Courier in an email.
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