Temporary Closure Announced for Part of River Road
26 September 2005
The City of Richmond will temporarily close River Road from Hollybridge Way to No. 2 Road, beginning October 4, 2005. The closure is scheduled to continue through the summer of 2006 when a newly realigned roadway will be opened.
Motorists are advised to use alternate routes. The following alternate routes are suggested:
From northwest Richmond to City Centre North:
- Avoid River Road by using Westminster Highway or Granville Avenue to link with Garden City Road, Elmbridge Way-Minoru Boulevard, or Alderbridge Way-Hazelbridge Way. Motorists are expected to experience minimal delays if they use these alternate routes and avoid River Road completely.
Motorists travelling to and from locations along River Road:
- Divert to Westminster Highway via No. 1 Road, McCallan Road, Lynas Lane or No. 2 Road on-ramp. Re-access River Road via Elmbridge Way and Hollybridge Way. Motorists choosing to continue to use River Road can expect delays of 3-8 minutes. However, these delays can be minimized by using part or all of the alternate routes identified above
To view the area affected by the River Road closure, click on the following link:
The closure will allow the City to proceed with construction of the Richmond Oval. Site densification is currently underway with preloading of the site to begin shortly. The City had initially anticipated constructing a realignment of River Road in advance of closing the existing section of River Road between Hollybridge Way and No. 2 Road. However, a number of factors have led to a change in construction schedules.
The City is negotiating a tentative agreement to purchase the CPR corridor from No. 2 Road to Capstan Way. This critical land acquisition is a key objective of the City Centre Transportation Plan as it would allow for construction of the North Loop Road, a significant new alternative for moving traffic into, out of and through the City Centre. Shifting the realigned section of River Road onto the rail corridor will allow it to better tie into the planned City Centre ring road network. However, due to railway customer transition requirements, the City would not have access to the corridor until early 2006. In order to keep River Road fully open in the interim, a temporary road would have to be built and then be replaced a few months later, once the rail corridor is available. This would cost an additional $800,000 for a minimal benefit. At the same time, changes in the scope and construction schedule for the Richmond Oval project mean that preloading activity is now required to begin in October on the existing section of River Road between Hollybridge Way and No. 2 Road.
When the section of River Road from Hollybridge Way to No. 2 Road reopens it will be realigned. River Road will curve southward immediately east of No. 2 Road and run along the current CPR corridor, continuing east to link up with Hollybridge Way at the existing railway crossing. The realignment will allow for construction of the Richmond Oval and a surrounding waterfront park and plaza. This meets the City’s Official Community Plan objectives of connecting the City Centre to the waterfront and improving public access to the waterfront.
In advance of the preloading, additional site preparation will include removal of remaining trees along River Road between Hollybridge Way and No. 2 Road. This includes a line of oak trees currently adjacent to River Road. Many of these trees are in poor health and have been deemed unsuitable for transplanting. However, the City will be taking cuttings from the trees for replanting, will be recycling wood for community uses and will be planting two new trees for any tree removed.
To receive more information on the River Road temporary closure please call 604-276-4127. For more information on the Richmond Oval project, please visit the City’s Richmond Oval Project Overview page.
