Langley Township will spend $10.5 million to widen and upgrade one of the busiest east-west roads in the Willoughby neighbourhood over the next two years.
Council voted unanimously at the Monday, Feb. 12 meeting to upgrades 80th Avenue from 204th Street east to 212th Street.
The road widening and upgrades will encompass one of the busiest stretches of the road, around its intersection with 208th Street, near Willoughby Elementary, a church, and the Willoughby Town Centre shopping plaza.
“We’re moving beyond 208th Street,” noted Mayor Eric Woodward, referring to the project as being essentially attached to the next phase of completing 208th Street’s widening, which was on the agenda as well.
“I think it’s about time that 80th Avenue turns into the road that it should be in Willoughby,” said Councillor Michael Pratt.
Funded from debt supported by development cost charges, the upgrade will include about 100 metres of road widening in the 20500 block of 80th Avenue, as well as a special crosswalk at 207th Street.
When completed the road will include raised bike lanes, a central landscaped median, landscaping, street lights, and sidewalks built to “safe street design” principles. Because it’s an arterial road, there will be no on-street parking, and the entire section of roadway will be four lanes wide.
The engineering design of the section will be completed this spring, with construction to start in the summer or fall.
Part of the road will be rebuilt next year, as the section between 204th Street and 206th Street crosses Yorkson Creek, so it will require environmental approvals.
