Traffic delays due to lane closures on 1st Avenue could be a precursor to full closure on part of the route this summer

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The traffic crunch along East 1st Avenue has begun, with lane closures along the route at various points between Clark Drive and Boundary Road today.

It’s all because of work being done by FortisBC.

The biggest crunch will likely be at Renfrew Street — which is a fairly busy route — with single lane closures both east and westbound between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

There are more single-lane closures today on East 1st Avenue at Lillooet Street, Nootka Drive, and between Cotton and Woodland Drives.

At some of those intersections, some access to the side streets will be limited or blocked off.

This is a bit of a precursor to the headaches motorists could experience this summer, with a two-month closure of East 1st Avenue — one of Vancouver’s only cross-town routes — between Clark Drive and Nanaimo Street throughout July and August.

FortisBC is replacing a gas line along the route.

The City of Vancouver has said that during the full closure this summer, it will extend morning and afternoon/evening rush hour regulations to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. respectively.

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