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In May, shortly after the Pattullo lane closures went into effect, another 4,000 vehicles per day had shifted over to the Alex Fraser Bridge.

Ministry numbers suggest Highway 91 supports about 8,000 vehicles per hour in the morning and 9,000 vehicles per hour in the afternoon peak, and queues during these times can be up to more than two kilometres long.

“It’s affecting our company big time. The traffic situation definitely has something to do with it,” Johnston said. “They need to close the exit that comes onto Annacis Island (from) Richmond. That would stop all the people using it as a shortcut.”

Michael Wang, president of wholesaler HYBC Industries, said his business is also being affected by the police, who are trying to stop drivers from pulling into Annacis Island after 3 p.m. but are blocking his workers and customers from entering his business, which is open until 6 p.m.

“Our company cannot run properly,” he said. “After 3 p.m. we have to shut up everything.”

Erwin, who is the ministry’s representative on the working group, said it will take some time to figure out what works. The province had tried installing pickets to direct traffic to merge southbound onto Highway 91 from the island, but they had the unintended effect of deterring customers from local businesses as well as discouraging short-cutters. The pickets have now been removed.

The ministry also hopes to ease traffic woes on the Alex Fraser with a plan that begins by eliminating the final traffic signal on Highway 91 leading up to the bridge and creating a new interchange where the highway intersects with 72nd Avenue.

Leslie Lee, vice-president of finance for Annacis Island-based MasonLift, said the interchange should help, but also suggested a counter-flow lane like the one used on the Stanley Park causeway. He also said tolling all bridges in Metro Vancouver could make a difference.

Although the situation has improved during the summer, Lee said couriers won’t come to Annacis Island for deliveries or pick-ups because they are afraid they won’t get home in time.

“It’s only going to get worse when school is back and the bad weather comes,” he said.

ksinoski@postmedia.com

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