FortisBC Gas Line Upgrades

We are upgrading our gas line between Coquitlam and Vancouver to make sure more than 210,000 homes and businesses across the Lower Mainland continue to receive the natural gas they count on, including more than 30,000 in Coquitlam.

Currently we have a difference in opinion with the City of Coquitlam regarding road repaving and decommissioning of the old gas line for this project. We have put forward these issues to the BC Utilities Commission as the appropriate authority, and are currently awaiting a decision. It is important to note that this will not impact our 2019 construction schedule or delay our work in Coquitlam.

Construction in Coquitlam in 2019 will take place on Como Lake Avenue, and while we will keep the street open for traffic there will be lane closures and delays.

We understand construction in your neighbourhood is disruptive. That’s why we always work to minimize local impacts and complete the work safely and as quickly as possible. We will repair any damage caused during construction, including restoring pavement as has been done in Vancouver and Burnaby for this project.

Once construction is complete, we will be decommissioning and leaving the old gas line in place. This is standard practice as it significantly reduces disruptions and is less costly for our customers. Since we cannot remove the old gas line until the new one is built and operational, removing it would create months of additional community impacts.

We will continue to be responsible for the decommissioned gas line, and we will remove any segments that interfere with new municipal infrastructure in the future. A long-standing operating agreement between the City of Coquitlam and FortisBC addresses these issues, and we have similar agreements with communities across the province.

It is important to remember that this is a safety upgrade to an existing line that is more than 60 years old and has reached the end of its operating life.

We want to thank everyone in the community for their patience and understanding as we complete this work.

Work upgrading our gas line in Burnaby and Coquitlam will start this February.

Pre-construction activities are expected to begin mid-February to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, meaning periodic lane closures at various locations. Full construction activities are scheduled to start in early March.

There will be community information sessions on February 5 in Coquitlam and February 12 in Burnaby. Sign up for our regular newsletter to stay updated on construction activities.

Graveley Street in Vancouver has now fully re-opened for traffic, meaning motorists can access the area from Boundary Road. We want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we completed construction on the street.

Valiant Street has been temporarily closed between East 1st Avenue and Graveley Street, and we expect it to re-open early next year.

FortisBC construction on Lougheed Highway and Douglas Road has been completed for 2018, with both roads now re-open for traffic. There may be some further intermittent lane closures on Lougheed Highway for road reinstatement work. These were the final two construction sites in Burnaby for 2018. 

We want to thank the community for its patience and understanding this year while we completed construction. Work will resume next year.

The intersection of Halifax Street and Douglas Road in Burnaby is now open for east-west traffic. Douglas Road is expected to remain closed north and south of the intersection – between Carleton and Madison Avenues – until mid-November.

Access is maintained for cyclists and pedestrians, and for vehicles accessing businesses south of Halifax Street.

Our crews are working to wrap up construction in Vancouver, and as a result there will be overnight work required on November 4 and 5 between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. During this time eastbound traffic on East 1st Avenue near the Highway 1 overpass will be reduced to one lane, and eastbound motorists will not be able to access the westbound Highway 1 on-ramp. Drivers can detour to the East Hastings on-ramp via Boundary Road, or to the Boundary on-ramp via Grandview Highway. Drivers heading westbound on East 1st Avenue can continue to access the westbound Highway 1 on-ramp as they would normally.

Gas line upgrade work on Woodland Drive is on track, with the street anticipated to reopen between East 1st Avenue and East 2nd Avenue next month.

The section between East 2nd and East 3rd Avenues will remain closed into December, as part of ongoing construction on the new station at the corner of Woodland Drive and East 2nd Avenue.

We appreciate the community’s patience as we complete this work safely, and as quickly as possible.

The full closure of the intersection of Halifax Street and Douglas Road is scheduled to start this week, meaning all east-west and north-south lanes will be closed until early November.

Douglas Road construction will also extend south from Halifax Street to Madison Avenue this week. Access will be maintained for cyclists and pedestrians, and for vehicles to access businesses south of Halifax Street.

Construction is anticipated to finish mid-November, weather dependent.

Lougheed Highway will fully reopen to traffic between Delta Avenue and Holdom Avenue today.

However, there will be intermittent lane closures between Willingdon and Delta Avenues for road reinstatement work over the coming weeks. Construction also continues east of Holdom Avenue and at the intersection of Holdom Avenue and Lougheed Highway.

We would like to thank the community for its patience as we complete construction on our gas line upgrade in Burnaby safely, and as quickly as possible.

Work on Boundary Road was completed over the weekend, and all northbound lanes are now reopen.

We would like to thank commuters, residents and businesses for their patience as we completed this construction safely, and as quickly as possible.

Construction included installing a new facility that will support our gas line upgrade.

Construction will soon start on Douglas Road in Burnaby, and will be completed in three stages:

• North Douglas Road section: Expected to start this weekend between Carleton Avenue to just north of the Halifax Street intersection, with the road fully closed to vehicle traffic. Work is anticipated to finish mid-November.
• Douglas Road-Halifax Street intersection: Expected to start on October 24, the intersection will be fully closed to all traffic until early November.
• South Douglas Road section: From October 23 it is also anticipated that Douglas Road, just south of Halifax Street, will be closed to vehicles. Local traffic access will be retained for those entering surrounding businesses. Construction is expected to finish mid-November.

FortisBC completed all gas line upgrade work on East 1st Avenue in Vancouver this week, meaning the busy commuter route is now fully reopen for traffic.

We would like to thank commuters, residents and businesses for their patience as we completed this construction as safely, and as quickly as possible.

Work continues east along the Lougheed Highway this week extending to just west of Sperling Avenue.

Lane closures will extend from Delta Avenue to Sperling Avenue, with traffic being moved to the south side of the street and reduced to one lane in each direction.

The intersection of Sperling Avenue and Lougheed Highway is unaffected and will remain open in all directions. Construction has been completed on Delta Avenue, with the intersection at Lougheed Highway reopen.

Lane closures between Delta and Holdom Avenues are anticipated to finish by next week, while construction between Holdom and Sperling Avenues is expected to run until mid-November.

Upcoming work on Boundary Road will result in northbound lane closures, with work anticipated to take place between October 8 – 14. These lane closures will be in effect from Grant Street to East 2nd Avenue and will allow our crews to install a new facility to support our gas line upgrade.

While this work is underway, access to Graveley and Kootenay Streets will be available to southbound motorists on Boundary Road, as well as via Valiant Street. On October 8 and 14, additional lane closures will be required so that our crews can set up and remove their equipment.

Gas line construction is now complete on Lougheed Highway between Madison Avenue and Delta Avenue, and this stretch of road is now reopened. Our crews will be working in the area again next week. This brief work is required to fully reinstate the road and may result in some traffic delays.

There will also be an additional closure at the intersection of Delta Avenue and Lougheed Highway. This will be in place until October 9 and help us complete our work in the area safely, and as quickly as possible. This work means:

• Vehicles travelling northbound on Douglas Road will still be able to turn left and travel westbound onto Lougheed Highway.
• To travel east on Lougheed, northbound traffic on Douglas Road will be detoured by taking Goring Street to Holdom Avenue.
• Vehicles travelling southbound on Delta Avenue will not be able to turn onto Lougheed Highway. Drivers are recommended to detour between Beta and Springer Avenues, travelling on Ridgelawn Drive and Halifax Street, to reach their destination.

Lane closures are now in effect between Springer and Holdom avenues on the Lougheed Highway in Burnaby, as work continues on our gas line upgrade project. Traffic travelling from Springer to Holdom is being shifted to the south side of the street and reduced to one lane in each direction. If you have questions, please call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or email [email protected].

As part of our ongoing work in Burnaby for the gas line upgrade project, our crews continue to work east along Lougheed Highway. Beginning in the evening of September 17, traffic between Delta Avenue and Springer Avenue will be shifted to the south side of the street and reduced to one lane in each direction. If you have questions, please call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or email [email protected].

We will be working at various locations in Burnaby over the next week as we prepare for further construction in the months ahead. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From September 7 to 14, crews will be working on Lougheed Highway from Delta Avenue to Bainbridge Avenue. Crews will work at each location for up to a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. during weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. This work will result in periodic lane closures in both eastbound and westbound directions, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters.

As of today, East 1st Avenue in Vancouver is now open from Clark Drive to Nanaimo Street. We want to thank the community—residents, businesses and commuters—for your patience and understanding while we completed our gas line upgrades in the area. Drivers can expect delays in other areas of Vancouver where gas line upgrades are continuing. This includes ongoing lane closures on East 1st Avenue between Rupert Street and Boundary Road, and periodic work between Nanaimo Street and Rupert Street. Our joint news release with the City of Vancouver is now available. If you have any questions, please contact us at 604-592-7494 or [email protected].

As of this past weekend, East 1st Avenue is now open again between Nanaimo Street and Rupert Street. Drivers in the area may still experience brief delays along this section of East 1st Avenue as our crews work to carry out civil work in various locations. This includes restoration work along the centre median as well as roadwork. Working hours will be between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and partial lane closures will take place in short sections approximately two blocks long. Both the westbound and eastbound median lanes will be impacted, and this work is expected to last until early September.

On the morning of August 26, East 1st Avenue will reopen to traffic between Rupert Street and Nanaimo Street, and days later Clark Drive to Nanaimo Street will reopen on August 31. We will provide more information on the August 31 reopening next week, and appreciate the community’s patience as we work to get the road fully reopened.

Our crews have completed their work in the intersection of Victoria Drive and East 1st Avenue, and Victoria Drive is now open to north-south traffic between Broadway and Venables Street. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience, and will continue to provide updates as we work towards our goal of reopening East 1st Avenue by the end of August.

Partial lane closures are now in effect on Lougheed Highway between Delta Avenue and Madison Avenue. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Businesses in the area will remain open throughout the closure, though it may take longer to reach them than usual.

To keep traffic flowing, a number of north-south routes will remain open, including Madison Avenue, Willingdon Avenue, Beta Avenue and Alpha Avenue. Pedestrians will also be able to cross at these roads. Bicycle lanes on Lougheed will be closed during construction – the westbound cyclist detour will begin at Holdom Avenue, and the eastbound detour will begin at Gilmore Avenue.

As construction continues in Vancouver, our crews have started working on East 1st Avenue from Rupert Street to just west of Boundary Road. Eastbound traffic along this section of East 1st Avenue is reduced to one lane, and eastbound motorists are not currently able to access the westbound Highway 1 on-ramp. Drivers can detour to the East Hastings on-ramp via Boundary Road, or to the Boundary on-ramp via Grandview Highway. Drivers heading westbound on East 1st Avenue can continue to access the westbound Highway 1 on-ramp as they would normally.

As our work continues in Vancouver, the intersection of Victoria Drive and East 1st Avenue will be fully closed from August 11 − 15. This full closure will allow us to complete our work in the area more quickly, and meet our target of re-opening East 1st Avenue by August 31.

Access for residents and to businesses on Victoria Drive will be maintained at all times. Other major north-south routes will also remain open to help keep traffic flowing, including Clark, Commercial, Nanaimo, Renfrew, Rupert and Boundary. Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained during this closure. Extended work hours will be required, including possible overnight work, to ensure that we can re-open the intersection by August 16.

We recognize the impact to people living in, or travelling through, the area, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience while we work safely, and as quickly as possible. If you have questions, please contact our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or by email to [email protected].

FortisBC has been consulting with the City of Coquitlam on our gas line upgrade project for over four years, and construction is set to begin in 2019. Recognizing there is a difference of opinion with the City on two outstanding issues, we have applied to the BC Utilities Commission to seek a resolution. At this time, we are awaiting their decision, and look forward to continuing to work closely with the City.

As we prepare for gas line construction to take place underneath the Highway 1 Overpass, eastbound traffic will be reduced to a single lane between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Motorists can still access both the westbound and eastbound Highway 1 onramps, though the left-hand turn lane for the Highway 1 westbound ramp is temporarily repositioned. This work is expected to take place until early August, with additional lane closures anticipated later this summer.

In the summer of 2017, we worked to extend two culverts in the Silver Creek watershed area in Burnaby. Now we’re returning to extend a third culvert in the area, in advance of gas line construction taking place between Underhill Avenue and Production Way, which is scheduled for 2019. Our contractor will begin setting up its equipment near the site on July 23, and the trail in this area will be closed until mid-September while this work is taking place. To learn more about culvert work and why it’s necessary to protect the environment, read more here.

We’re hosting an information session on Tuesday, July 17 at Willingdon Community Centre to give local residents an opportunity to talk to us about the ongoing gas line upgrades in Vancouver, Burnaby and Coquitlam. Learn more and register.

Today marks the beginning of the following East Vancouver road closures:

• Woodland Drive, from East 1st Avenue to East 2nd Avenue, until early August
• Graveley Street, west of Boundary Road, until early September

The newly constructed Valiant Street, which connects East 1st Avenue and Graveley Street, will provide access to businesses on Graveley and Kootenay Streets.

East 1st Avenue in Vancouver is now fully closed between Clark Drive and Nanaimo Street for gas line construction, but businesses in the area will remain open. The full closure will remain in effect until August 31. There are additional ongoing lane closures on East 1st Avenue between Nanaimo Street and Boundary Road. Major arterial routes such as Clark Drive, Commercial Drive, Victoria Drive, Nanaimo Street, Renfrew Street and Rupert Street will remain open.

For more information about this project, contact us at 604-592-7494 or [email protected].

As we prepare for the upcoming full closure of East 1st Avenue between Clark Drive and Nanaimo Street, we will be working at various locations in Vancouver this week. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From June 25 to 29, crews will be working on East 1st Avenue between Woodland Drive and Commercial Drive, and between Templeton Drive and Nanaimo Street. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters.

We will be working at various locations in Burnaby this week as we prepare for the start of construction. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From June 18 to 23, crews will be working on Bainbridge Avenue from Lougheed Highway to Broadway, and on Springer Avenue from Halifax Street to Lougheed Highway. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters.

We will be working at various locations in Burnaby this week as we prepare for the start of construction. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From June 11-17, crews will be working on Lougheed Highway between Springer Avenue and Bainbridge Avenue. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters.

We will be working at various locations in Burnaby this week as we prepare for the start of construction. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From June 4-10, crews will be working on Lougheed Highway between Madison Avenue and Holdom Avenue. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters.

We will be working at various locations in Burnaby this week as we prepare for the start of construction. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From May 28-June 3, crews will be working on Lougheed Highway between Madison Avenue and Willingdon Avenue. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters.

This past weekend marked the official start of construction in Vancouver, resulting in lane closures on East 1st Avenue. Traffic is reduced to a single lane in each direction between Nanaimo Street and Rupert Street. We understand that if you travel through this area that project construction will be an inconvenience, and that’s why our goal is to work as safely and quickly as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

Construction officially started today on FortisBC’s natural gas line upgrade, with work taking place on small sections of Gilmore Avenue and Douglas Road in Burnaby. Work will also officially begin in Vancouver on Monday, May 28, though one lane will be closed in each direction as of the evening of Saturday, May 26, as we begin to set up traffic detours and barricades.

Our work at various locations continues in Vancouver ahead of the lane and road closures taking place next week. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From May 22-May 27, crews will be working along East 1st Avenue, between Boundary Road and Templeton Drive.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

Construction on FortisBC’s natural gas line upgrade will begin on Thursday, May 24 on small sections of Gilmore Avenue and Douglas Road in Burnaby and along East 1st Avenue in Vancouver on Monday, May 28. This will result in significant lane closures. Some side streets along East 1st will also be closed to control traffic, but main arterials going north and south such as Commercial Drive and Nanaimo Street will remain open.

This project is necessary to upgrade 20 kilometres of natural gas line in Burnaby, Coquitlam and Vancouver. We understand that for those living, working or travelling through these areas the construction will be an inconvenience and we appreciate your patience. For lane closure details go to our project page.

Our goal is to complete the project as quickly and safely as possible, and the most efficient way for us to do this requires us to close a number of busy roads. There will be traffic delays so it is important to know your route before you commute. Your favourite stores will remain open.

The best way to stay informed is by tuning into regional traffic media for updates on road closures. We also encourage residents, businesses and commuters to check out our interactive project map at talkingenergy.ca or follow us on Twitter (@FortisBC) for construction updates.

If you have any specific questions, we’d love to talk to you. Call our project line at 604-592-7494 or email us at [email protected]. We will be hosting a coffee chat at the Drive Coffee Bar on Thursday, May 24 if you’d like to talk to us about the project in person.

We will be working at various locations in Burnaby this week as we prepare for the start of construction. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From May 22-May 27, crews will be working at various locations on Gilmore Avenue between Douglas Road and Halifax Street, and on Graveley Street between Ingleton Avenue and Boundary Road. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

We will be working at various locations in Burnaby this week as we prepare for the start of construction May 22. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From May 14-May 19, crews will be working on Douglas Road between Halifax Street and Madison Avenue/Lougheed Highway, as well as on Graveley Street from Ingleton Avenue to Boundary Road.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with no work on the long weekend. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

Our work at various locations continues in Vancouver ahead of the start of our construction May 22. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From May 14-May 19, crews will be working along East 1st Avenue, between Woodland Drive and Victoria Drive, as well as Nanaimo Street to Rupert Street. Crews will also be working on East 1st Avenue from west of Boundary Road to the Highway 1 overpass.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with no work on the long weekend. It will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

FortisBC’s hosted its first community outreach coffee chat at the Drive Coffee Bar. Our community relations team had a good shared information with local residents, business owners and the media about the upcoming gas line upgrades in Vancouver and Burnaby. We’ll continue to host coffee chats throughout the project so that we can talk to you in person about your questions or concerns.

Please email us anytime at [email protected] or call us at 604-592-7494. Check out our community page for details about our next coffee chat.

We will be working at various locations in Burnaby this week as we prepare for the start of construction later this month. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From May 5-May 13, crews will be working at various locations on Douglas Road between Gilmore Avenue and Halifax Street, and on Graveley Street between Macdonald Ave. and Boundary Road. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

It will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

Our work at various locations continues in Vancouver ahead of the lane and road closures taking place later this month. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. From May 5-May 13, crews will be working along East 1st Avenue, between Woodland Drive and Cotton Drive, while Woodland Drive will be closed between East 1st and East 2nd avenues. Crews will also be working at the intersections of East 1st Avenue and Nanaimo Street, as well as East 1st Avenue and Rupert Street, the weekend of May 12-13

This work will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

After years of planning, construction is set to officially begin on the FortisBC Gas Line Upgrades project. Construction will get underway on May 22 in Vancouver on East 1st Avenue between Nanaimo St. and Boundary Road, and Burnaby on Gilmore Avenue between Graveley Street and Douglas Road near Carleton Avenue. It’s important to know that your favourite local stores and businesses along the route will be kept open throughout construction, even though they may be difficult to access.

If you’re on the go, tune into local traffic radio, or if social is more your style follow us for timely updates on Twitter.

Beginning overnight tonight, our crews will be closing the intersection of Victoria Drive and East 1st Avenue. This closure of Victoria Drive will last until August 15 and helps us meet the goal of re-opening East 1st Avenue by August 31. Traffic on Victoria Drive between Broadway and Venables Street will be limited to local traffic only, although access for residents and to businesses on Victoria Drive will be maintained at all times. Pedestrians and cyclists will also still be able to cross East 1st at Victoria. Other major north-south routes will remain open to help keep traffic flowing, including Clark, Commercial, Nanaimo, Renfrew, Rupert and Boundary. Extended work hours will be required, including possible overnight work, to ensure that we can re-open the intersection by August 16. If you have questions, please call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or email [email protected].

Beginning this week, we will be working at various locations in Burnaby in advance of the lane and road closures taking place later this spring. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. Upcoming work will include crews working at various locations on Douglas Road between Gilmore Avenue and Halifax Street, and on Graveley Street from April 30-May 13. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

Our work at various locations continues in Vancouver in advance of the lane and road closures taking place later this spring. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. Upcoming work will include crews working at different locations along East 1st Avenue, between Boundary Road and Nanaimo Street, and Woodland Drive, between East 1st and East 2nd, from April 30-May 13. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

FortisBC hosted an information session on Tuesday, April 24 at Britannia Secondary School to give local residents an opportunity to talk to us about the upcoming gas line upgrades in Vancouver, Burnaby and Coquitlam. We mailed more than 5,500 invitations to nearby residents in early April and promoted the event through local media and social media. There will be more information sessions as our work moves into Burnaby and Coquitlam.

For more traffic information, please visit our map of road closures in Vancouver and Burnaby. We also encourage residents, businesses and commuters to subscribe to our newsletter for weekly construction updates. Email us at [email protected] or call us at 604-592-7494 if you have any questions about our project. 

Beginning on April 19, we will be working at various locations in Vancouver in advance of the lane and road closures taking place later this spring. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as water lines, in preparation for the required natural gas line upgrades. Upcoming work will include crews working at different locations along East 1st Avenue, between Boundary Road and Kaslo Street, from April 19–28. Crews will work at each location for a few days at a time.

This work will take place primarily during the weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays. This work will result in periodic lane closures, approximately one block in length, and we appreciate the patience of the local community and commuters. Residents with questions about this work can call our project phone line at 604-592-7494 or send an email to [email protected].

FortisBC is beginning construction of its newest gas line upgrade project this spring, and residents, commuters and businesses in Vancouver and Burnaby should prepare for more traffic congestion than usual. An overview of the project was delivered at Vancouver City Hall today to inform the public and the media. East 1st Avenue in Vancouver will be fully closed from mid-June until the end of August, and will see partial lane closures from spring until the end of the year. FortisBC will be posting regular construction updates on TalkingEnergy.ca and sharing updates with local traffic media to help reduce the impact of the construction. For more information on today’s announcement visit FortisBC’s media centre.

In preparation for the natural gas line upgrade project, our contractor will begin demolishing the existing Woodland Station during the week of January 15th. Work will take place on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m., with occasional Saturday work also required, and is expected to be complete by early March. Whenever possible, our contractor will look to finish activity by 5 p.m. to limit noise disruption. During this period, there will be local traffic closures on Woodland Drive and East 2nd Avenue, and limited street parking will be available. Motorists are asked to follow the directions of crews working in the area. Once demolition is complete, we will provide further notification regarding the upcoming construction schedule for Woodland Station. We appreciate the public’s patience as we work to complete this project as quickly and safely as possible.

The City of Vancouver recently notified residents of the temporary Adanac Overpass closure, which is related to our Vancouver to Coquitlam natural gas line upgrade project. Information about the Adanac Overpass closure and related lane and street closures, including sections of East First Avenue, is included in the below letter.

We are currently working at various locations in Burnaby in advance of the project beginning in 2018. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as waterlines, in preparation for required natural gas line upgrades. This work is beginning on December 21 and will be taking place at different locations along Broadway and Lougheed Highway, and will continue intermittently in January.

Work is scheduled to take place during daytime hours from Monday to Friday, although weekend work may be required in January, and there may be traffic impacts associated with this work. We apologize for the inconvenience that this causes the nearby community, and we appreciate their patience. Residents with concerns about this work can call our project phone line at 604.592.7494 or send an email to [email protected].

In preparation for natural gas line replacement, crews will be working near Woodland Station between December 11 - 20. There will be loud noise associated with this work, including a number of construction trucks in the area. Crews will be working during weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to minimize noise impacts and during this time, Woodland Drive will be single lane alternating traffic between East 2nd and East 3rd Avenues. Limited street parking will be available during these dates. We appreciate the public’s patience and will work to complete this project as quickly and safely as possible.

We are currently working at various locations in Vancouver in advance of the project beginning in 2018. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as waterlines, in preparation for required natural gas line upgrades. This work is scheduled to take place from November 28 to December 1, primarily at different locations along East First Avenue.

A portion of this work will take place overnight with crews working between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., and during this time surrounding residents will likely experience noise impacts associated with the work. We apologize for the inconvenience that this causes the nearby community, and we appreciate their patience. Residents with concerns about this work can call our project phone line at 604.592.7494 or send an email to [email protected].

We are currently conducting night work in the Como Lake area of Coquitlam for this gas line upgrade project. The purpose of this work is to locate underground utilities, such as waterlines, in preparation for required natural gas line upgrades. This work is being completed at night to minimize traffic impacts to the community, and to ensure its completion as quickly and safely as possible. Crews will be working between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., and during this time surrounding residents will likely experience noise impacts associated with the work. We apologize for the inconvenience that this causes the nearby community, and we appreciate their patience.

Residents with concerns about this work can call our project phone line at 604.592.7494 or send an email to [email protected].

FortisBC representatives host an information session to discuss the upcoming vegetation clearing works taking place in Burnaby.

Trenchless (underground) construction will continue until September 15 on East 1st Avenue in Vancouver between the Highway 1 off-ramp and Boundary Road. Construction will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with one lane closed in either direction. The westbound centre lane may also be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a limited number of weekends.

• Periodic lane closures will be required.
• Trenchless construction will be used to minimize traffic disruptions.
• All sidewalks, crosswalks and bus stops in the area will remain open.

FortisBC representatives host an information session to discuss the upcoming vegetation clearing works taking place in Burnaby. 

Vegetation clearing will soon start in Burnaby as part of preparation for our Vancouver to Coquitlam natural gas line upgrades in 2018. Most of the work will be concentrated along the Broadway corridor between Production Way and Underhill Avenue, and will take place from mid-September to early November 2017.

Between July 4 and August 31, 2017, trenchless (underground) construction will occur on East 1st Avenue in Vancouver between the Highway 1 off-ramp and Boundary Road. Construction will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from July 4 to August 31, with one lane closed in either direction. The westbound centre lane may also be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a limited number of weekends.

• Period lane closures will be required.
• Trenchless construction will be used to minimize traffic disruptions.
• All sidewalks, crosswalks and bus stops in the area will remain open.

We’re upgrading our natural gas line from Vancouver to Coquitlam because we’re committed to delivering natural gas safely and reliably to our customers. Our upgrade project includes replacing 20 kilometres of existing 20-inch gas line with 20 kilometres of 30-inch gas line.

Lateral work

We’ll be installing two laterals in Coquitlam in the coming weeks to prepare for construction in 2018. Laterals connect the mainline to regulator stations and lower the pressure of the natural gas before it reaches our customers. The following closures, parking restrictions and possible water service disruption will be in effect while lateral work on Poirier and Robinson Streets is underway.

We’ve completed a temporary restoration of the area around the trail. We’re committed to restoring and improving the trail and replacing invasive species with native plants. A more extensive trail restoration will be done following the installation of the new natural gas line in 2018.

The section of Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail that runs between Underhill Avenue and Production Way trail is now open—and will remain open until the summer, when further closures will be required for additional vegetation clearing activities.

In preparation of gas line construction, we cleared vegetation along an existing right of way on Broadway, from Underhill Avenue to Production Way, in Burnaby. The clearing work is required to extend culverts on three streams along the route and to provide safe access for workers and equipment when construction begins.

FortisBC representatives host an information session to discuss the project and answer questions about early construction activities.

FortisBC representatives host an information session to discuss the project and answer questions about early construction activities.

Upon approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission, we created detailed studies of the precise gas line route. These studies take into account other buried utilities, like water mains. They also consider community impacts, the materials we’ll use, and construction specifications. We began procuring materials, in addition to a number of construction planning activities that are underway.

Based on feedback from the public and municipalities, the proposed route is revised in April 2015, with 25 per cent of alignment re-routed based on public feedback. Six months later and with the determination made that the project is in the public interest, the British Columbia Utilities Commission grants a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project.

FortisBC representatives host an information session in Burnaby to discuss the project and answer questions.

Early engineering studies involve preliminary designs to support an application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission. This includes studies of the general area to select a preferred route, initial designs of the pipeline and valve stations, and cost estimates to support the application.

FortisBC representatives host an information session in Burnaby to discuss the project and answer questions.

FortisBC representatives host an initial information session in Vancouver to discuss the project and answer questions.

FortisBC representatives host an initial information session in Burnaby to discuss the project and answer questions.

FortisBC representatives host an initial information session in Burnaby to discuss the project and answer questions.

FortisBC representatives host an initial information session in Coquitlam to discuss the project and answer questions.