32 Ave Corridor Improvements: King George Boulevard to 164 Street

The City is making multimodal improvements to 32 Avenue from King George Boulevard to 164 Street.

Project Description

Road improvements will increase road capacity to help improve traffic movement throughout the area now and for the future as the area continues to grow. Upgrades will also improve walking and cycling paths to provide residents with healthier, more sustainable ways of getting around.

Summary of Improvements

Improvements along 32 Avenue will generally consist of the following:

Between 154 Street and 164 Street

  • Widening from 2 to 4 travel lanes with curb and gutters
  • Left turn lanes and a raised median with plantings
  • Multi-use paths on both sides for cycling and walking 
  • Improved transit access
  • Enhanced street and pedestrian lighting
  • Improved pavement conditions

View detailed project renderings of 32 Avenue from 154 Street to 160 Street.

32 Avenue Diversion (Between King George Boulevard and 152 Street)

  • Improvements to 32 Avenue Diversion and Hwy 99 Interchange including an additional southbound off-ramp and northbound on-ramp (to be delivered by Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure)
  • Additional eastbound and westbound left turn lanes at the intersection of 32 Avenue and 152 Street
  • Multi-use paths for cycling and walking 

Improvements on 32 Avenue corridor are included in the Engineering Department’s 10-Year Servicing Plan.

Project Timing

Construction will be delivered in multiple phases:

  • 32 Avenue between 154 Street to 164 Street (Phase 1) commencing in early 2021 with completion anticipated by fall 2022. View the Corporate Report from January 2021 awarding the contract.
  • 32 Ave Diversion road improvements between King George Boulevard and 152 Street (Phase 2) commencing summer 2021 with completion anticipated by winter 2021.  32 Ave Diversion/Hwy 99 Interchange improvements including additional ramps will be in the near future. View the Corporate Report on the City’s partnership with the Province to make improvements to the 32 Ave Diversion and Hwy 99 Interchange. 

Public Meeting

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting a traditional Open House was not feasible. In November 2020, residents in the area were mailed postcards with a link to view the online Public Engagement Boards and provide feedback. Project sign boards were installed along the corridor. Project information was shared through City’s social media channels and newsletters.

Why 32 Avenue?

32 Avenue is the main arterial roadway in the Rosemary Heights, Morgan Creek, and North Grandview Heights neighbourhoods and extends to Campbell Heights Business Park. These areas have all seen significant growth with the road now carrying significant personal, commercial and transit vehicles to service these areas.

Traffic in all modes of travel are forecast to increase to service the remaining growth in these areas, as well additional planned neighbourhoods such as Redwood Heights. Furthermore, 32 Avenue has regional significance providing a critical link for Surrey and the regional transportation network in Metro Vancouver for the movement of people and goods. 

As the City invests in our road network, with Development Cost Charge (DCC) funding, we’re making targeted corridor improvements in our highest growth neighbourhoods to support ease of movement for intra-City trips. By increasing capacity on these higher volume routes, we’re better connecting the City’s communities and employment lands.

Upgrading this important east-west link will support residents’ safe and comfortable road use as well as future growth while reducing travel times. By increasing capacity on these higher volume routes, we’re better connecting the City’s communities and employment lands.

What will this project achieve?

Improvements along this section will:

  • Reduce congestion and delays
  • Support more trips made by sustainable travel modes, improving comfort and safety for people walking, cycling and taking transit
  • Meet growing capacity needs
  • Improve pavement condition
  • Reduce road noise in residential areas through improved pavement conditions

32 Avenue is part of TransLink’s Major Road Network (MRN). The MRN connects the provincial highway system with the local road network by carrying commuter, transit and truck traffic. Some corridors also serve cyclists and pedestrians.

TransLink provides operational and capital improvement funding for projects on the MRN. With 32 Avenue now being part of the MRN, the City will seek 50% cost-sharing funding for improvements through TransLink’s Major Road Network and Bicycles (MRNB) capital cost-sharing program.

Contact

If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, please contact the Design & Construction Division at 604-591-4253 or EngWebmail@surrey.ca.

The History Behind 32 Avenue as a Truck Route

  • Completed
  • Started
  • Pending
1998 - 1999

Original Inclusion as a Truck Route and TransLink’s Role

TransLink was created in 1998 under the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act. While the major intent of this was to replace BC Transit operations of the bus and SkyTrain network, TransLink was also set up with a mandate to manage the regional road network and provide oversight of Designated Truck Routes. This oversight included specific legislation requiring TransLink approval for the removal of any designated truck routes to ensure that regions goods movement corridors were maintained.

In 1999 the City adopted the Surrey Transportation Plan that included identifying key arterial roads throughout the City to be designated truck routes, replacing the previous practice to identify all arterial roads as truck routes. In South Surrey, key roads identified as truck routes included King George Boulevard, 152 Street, 192 Street, 16 Avenue and 32 Avenue. These roads were selected based on their considered importance in providing connections at a reasonable spacing to the highway network and adjacent cities.

    2000 - 2004

    Temporary Truck Ban and First Request for Permanent Ban

    In January 2000 as part of Corporate Report R018:2000: Temporary Removal of 32 Avenue (152 Street to 196 Street) Truck Route Network staff sought TransLink and Council’s approval to temporarily remove 32 Avenue from the truck route network. This action was taken to accommodate area improvements and the opening of a new elementary school for Rosemary Heights. The temporary ban was supported by TransLink and originally scheduled to end on December 31, 2001 but later extended to December 31, 2003.  

    During the temporary ban, the City formally requested for a permanent ban on trucks on 32 Avenue. This request was not supported by TransLink due to the limited number of east west truck route corridors and impact that a ban would have on goods movement. A further temporary extension was granted until June 30, 2004.

      2011 - 2013

      Second Request for Permanent Truck Ban

      In 2011 as part of the City’s work to initiate improvements on 32 Avenue from Croydon Drive to 160 Street there was significant community request to again petition TransLink to remove 32 Avenue from the truck route network. The 32 Avenue Community Alliance appeared as a delegation at the October 17, 2011 Council-in-Committee to again request that Council formally request TransLink remove 32 Avenue as a truck route.

      After discussion at the December 2011 Transportation Infrastructure Committee meeting, Council formally adopted a Resolution at the January 23, 2012 Public Hearing to request the truck route removal.

      TransLink initiated a technical review that was complete in January 2013. Similar to the conclusions made 10 years earlier, the removal of 32 Avenue from the truck route network was denied.

        2013-2014

        Completion of the 16 Avenue Interchange Decreases Truck Traffic

        Construction of the Highway 99/16 Avenue Interchange to provide an additional South Surrey connection with Highway 99 and service growth in Sunnyside Heights, Darts Hill and the Highway 99 corridor by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) was complete in September of 2014.

        The new interchange created a truck route link between Highway 99 and 16 Avenue and was anticipated to alleviate truck traffic on 32 Avenue. A decrease has been achieved, with truck traffic on 32 Avenue measured to average about 11% of total traffic before the interchange, which was lowered to 7% after the interchange.

          2018

          Inclusion of 32 Avenue in TransLink’s Major Road Network

          32 Avenue was added to the MRN in 2018 in consideration of the role it serves as the main access to the Highway 99 Interchange for Grandview Heights and the connection it provides with the Township of Langley, other MRN roads including 152 Street and 200 Street, as well as Highway 15/176 Street.