TRI-CITIES (NEWS1130) – Weeks of traffic disruption on a major artery in the Tri-Cities has been an irritant to drivers and people living there, and it isn’t over yet.
The tunnel-boring machine for the Evergreen Line has been parked under Clarke Road for weeks now as crews do maintenance, and there are at least two more stops planned once it’s moving again later this month.
“The tunnel boring machine will require further maintenance before it’s completed its work, probably at two locations,” says Amanda Farrell, project executive director.
“The precise locations where that work will happen have not yet been confirmed. It will depend on the condition of the tools, and when the tools need to be changed, and we will give people information in advance as we know it on where those locations will be.”
The tunnel boring began near the Barnet Highway and View Street last year. At the time construction was announced, major disruptions to traffic were not expected.
The two-kilometre long tunnel comes out near the intersection of Clarke Road and Como Lake Avenue and should be finished by the middle of this year.
The machine’s two other stops since November caused sinkholes to open up in Port Moody’s College Park neighbourhood, but Farrell says there’s no more danger of that.
She also doesn’t anticipate the current work will lead to another delay for the Line, expected to open late next year.