Transportation Planning

Massey Crossing Project

George Massey Crossing Project

On August 18, 2021, the Province announced that a new eight-lane immersed-tube tunnel will replace the George Massey Tunnel.  The project scope includes:

  • Two of the eight lanes will be dedicated for bus rapid transit.
  • A separate single tube will have a bi-directional path for cyclists and pedestrians.
  • The new crossing will be built north of the existing tunnel and at the same depth.
  • The existing tunnel will be decommissioned and removed, and the BC Hydro lines relocated.
  • The crossing will be toll-free and has an estimated cost of $4.15 billion versus $4.22 billion for an eight-lane bridge.  
  • The Deas Island Bridge will be replaced with an eight-lane bridge.
  • A new southbound transit lane will be added between Westminster Highway and Steveston Highway, and the existing dedicated transit lane will be converted to a general traffic lane.

The new crossing is anticipated to be in service in 2030, and the existing crossing will be decommissioned by 2032.  For more information, visit the Province of BC's George Massey Crossing website.

Highway 99 Corridor Improvements

On June 22, 2021, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the Ministry) announced improvements along the Highway 99 corridor that are components of the George Massey Crossing Project and will be implemented in advance of the tunnel replacement.  The works comprise the following improvements with two projects located in Richmond:

  • Steveston Interchange: The existing two-lane overpass structure at Steveston Highway and Highway 99 will be replaced to accommodate two eastbound lanes and three westbound lanes including a left turn lane to southbound Highway 99.  A request for proposals is planned for early fall 2021.  With a successful contract award, construction on the Steveston interchange is planned to begin in 2022 and be completed in 2025.
  • Bus-Only Connection at Bridgeport Road: A new bus-only access ramp will be created from Bridgeport Road to Highway 99 southbound to improve transit access to the highway.  New multi-use path connections to/from Oak Street Bridge are included as part of this work.  Work is expected to begin in fall 2021 and be completed in spring 2022.
  • Transit Improvements south of the George Massey Tunnel: Bus-on-shoulder lanes along Highway 99 will be extended southbound between Highways 17 and 17A (2.5 km) and Highway 17 and Ladner Trunk Road (3.4 km), and northbound between Ladner Trunk Road and the current start of the HOV lane (3.5 km).  The Highway 99 northbound off-ramp and on-ramp will be widened to add a bus-only lane at the Highway 99/Highway 17A interchange, and Highway 17A lanes will be widened for eastbound bus/HOV priority.  The Highway 17A work will include new ramp crossings for cyclists and improvements to the bike shuttle pull-out including a new shelter.  For all of the improvements, work is expected to begin in fall 2021.

Past Reports to City Council

PDF Document Reports are provided in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.

Date Report Agenda Item # Meeting Minutes
 2021-Jun-22 Update on George Massey Crossing Project
3 Minutes
 2019-Oct-15 George Massey Crossing - Phase 2 Discussion 1 Minutes 
2019-Mar-25 George Massey Crossing - Preliminary Principles, Goals and Objectives 22  Minutes
2019-Jan-28 George Massey Crossing - Findings of Independent Technical Review 19 Minutes
2018-Nov-26 George Massey Crossing - Update on Independent Technical Review 13 Minutes
2017-Jul-24 George Massey Tunnel Replacement - Alternative Crossing Improvement Options 25A Minutes
2017-Mar-27 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project - Analysis of Approved Environmental Assessment Certificate 9 Minutes
2016-Oct-11 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project - Key Highway Infrastructure Features 15 Minutes
2016-Oct-3 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project - Key Highway Infrastructure Features 1 Minutes
2016-Sep-12 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project - Application Comments for the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Process 8 Minutes
2016-Jul-25 George Massey Tunnel Replacement - Application to Agricultural Land Commission on Highway 99 Widening for Transportation, Utility and Recreational Trail Use 11 Minutes
2016-Feb-22 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project 10 Minutes
2016-Jan-25 George Massey Tunnel Replacement - City Comments on Project Definition Report 20 Minutes
2015-Oct-13 Update on George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project - Highway 99 Widening 16 Minutes
2015-Jul-27 Update on George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project 15 Minutes
2014-Jun-23 George Massey Tunnel Replacement - Status Update and Proposed Project Objectives 18 Minutes
2013-Mar-11 George Massey Tunnel Improvement Options 14A Minutes

Relevant Documents
PDF Document Westmar Advisors - Independent Technical Review of the George Massey Crossing, September 2018
PDF Document Metro Vancouver Report: June 24, 2016