Shoring up the 24200-block of 56 Avenue will mean traffic diversions

Work is underway to shore up the 24200-block of 56th Avenue in Langley’s North Otter neighbourhood, with westbound traffic diverted until August.

A Township of Langley announcement said the section will be closed for road and slope stabilization work from June 20 until at least Aug. 11, which will result in a westbound traffic detour at 248th Street, 24 hours a day.

Passenger traffic will be diverted to Robertson Crescent and truck traffic will be diverted to Fraser Highway.

Eastbound traffic will not be affected.

Traffic control personnel will be on site and delays may be experienced.

“The work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled or extended as required,” the announcement advised.

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In December, Langley Township approved spending up to $1 million to shore up the winding road where 56th Avenue crosses the Salmon River.

“Slope stabilization works are urgently required in order to stabilize slope movement that is causing pavement distress and slope instability,” a Township engineering report warned.

“The slope analysis indicated that the slope is marginally stable under static conditions and likely unstable during a large magnitude seismic event,” the staff report said.

In the 24200-block of 56th Avenue, the road descends abruptly and snakes down to cross the river, rising rapidly again on the opposite bank.

There have already been multiple repairs and upgrades to the road during the past 20 years, including new retaining walls, but cracks and sinking pavement have continued to be an issue.

In response to an Advance Times query, a Township statement said the total project cost was expected to be approximately $910,000.

“Total final project costs will not be known until after the project is completed,” the statement advised.

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