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2,056 trees will be lost to Surrey-Langley Skytrain project

The same number of trees will be replaced at a 1:1 ratio: report
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A Surrey corporate report says 2,056 trees will be lost to the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project. This photo was taken when Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming announced an update for the project, in Holland Park on Thursday, July 14, 2022. (Photo by Anna Burns/Surrey Now-Leader)

An estimated 2,056 trees will be lost in preparation for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project.

City of Surrey staff are asking the Surrey council to sign off on an agreement with the provincial government that would see the city deliver landscaping design, construction and installation for the Surrey-Langley Skytrain project, with the province contributing up to $7.06 million toward the work.

There are plans to replace the same number of lost trees.

Council will be voting on this Monday night, on the recommendation of Surrey’s engineering and parks, recreation and culture departments.

The $4.01 billion SkyTrain extension project will see 16 kilometres added to the Expo Line from King George Station to Langley City, with eight new stations – six of them in Surrey. A corporate report by Scott Neuman, Surrey’s general manager of engineering and Laurie Cavan, general manager of parks, recreation and culture, indicates procurement is expected to be completed early this year with the construction done by late 2028.

The report states “significant” boulevard and median space will be required for column placement along Fraser Highway.

“To facilitate the construction of the SkyTrain system, road widening and accompanying relocation of BC Hydro services, sizeable areas of boulevards, and medians will be impacted resulting in a large number of trees that need to be removed along Fraser Highway,” it reads.

“As part of the proposed landscaping plan, these trees will be replaced by the city under the proposed agreement.”

READ ALSO: SkyTrain sticks with geographical names for stations of Surrey-Langley line extension

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About the Author: Tom Zytaruk

I write unvarnished opinion columns and unbiased news reports for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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