A large infrastructure project replacing one kilometre of sewers will commence its final phase at Oak Street and West 70th Avenue in Marpole this week.
The City of Vancouver advises drivers and pedestrians to plan for traffic impacts to the busy area, commencing Thursday, Aug. 22.
The Oak Street Sewer Separation project will replace the old sewers with a separated pipe system with a life expectancy of about 100 years.
The city is commencing the third phase of work on the aging infrastructure this week, replacing pipes along Oak Street, West 70th Avenue, and Fremlin Street.
The first six days of this work will primarily focus on the intersection of West 70th Avenue and Oak Street. Work will take place 24/7 starting Thursday night, and continue through the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 27.
The city warns of "significant traffic impacts" in the area, particularly around Oak Street. Traffic control and the VPD will be on-site to manage traffic and assist pedestrians at the intersection during construction. People should use alternative routes when possible and provide extra travel time, especially to the airport.
Starting Aug. 22, the following changes to traffic flow will be in place:
- Traffic lanes will be reduced on Oak Street with at least one lane remaining open in each direction.
- Through-traffic along West 70th Avenue may be restricted at the intersection.
The city prioritized intersection work now to minimize traffic disruption over the Labour Day long weekend and the start of the new school year in early September.
Ongoing traffic impacts and delays along Oak Street
Following the intersection work, crews will continue their work on Oak Street between West 70th and West 64th Avenue until spring 2025. During this time, the following changes to traffic flow will be in place:
- Traffic lanes will be reduced to two lanes in each direction on Oak Street during the daytime.
- Traffic lanes will be reduced to one lane southbound and two lanes northbound on Oak Street during night work (8 p.m.-5 a.m.).
Pedestrians will have access to the area throughout the project, except during specific activities. Detour signage will be in place during these times.
The city has provided the following traffic tips:
- If you are travelling in and around the area, plan for and expect delays.
- Follow all detours and abide by “No Parking” signs in the area.
- Allow for extra time to get to where you need to go.
- Avoid short-cutting through surrounding residential streets as they are not designed for high volumes of traffic.
- Follow #VanTraffic or use traffic cameras to check traffic conditions along your commute.
- Visit TransLink's alerts page for changes or disruptions to your bus service.
- Stay ahead of Vancouver's upcoming road closures.
The project is part of the city’s 2023-2026 Capital Plan, which maps out significant investments in Vancouver’s infrastructure and amenities. Valued at $28.5 million, it is one of the largest projects in the current Capital Plan.
When the project is completed, the upgraded system will serve the growing Cambie Corridor where over 50,000 new residents are expected to live by 2040.
