91原创 Township is reviving an old study that suggested some upgrades for busy 16 Avenue and will look at putting them into place in the coming years.
At the July 21 council meeting, Mayor Eric Woodward's motion called for a staff report on the merits of a number of improvements that were suggested in the 16 Avenue Corridor Study completed in early 2016.
Woodward's motion notes that some of the medium-term improvements, projected to be undertaken between 2022 and 2032, have not been completed.
The staff report will look at the costs and potential timelines for a multi-year implementation of changes to the road.
That could include complete signalization of the major east-west and north-south turning lanes, with 224 Steet and 196 Street possibly given priority. Several of the major intersections along 16 Avenue remain two-way stops with only stop signs controlling north-south traffic.
The motion also called for staff to consider widening parts of the road with access and turning lanes for high-traffic destinations along 16 Avenue, including tourist, agricultural, and park destinations. The sizable Campbell Valley Regional Park stradles 16 Avenue east of 200 Street.
Councillor Steve Ferguson noted 16 Avenue's status as a major transportation route connecting to South Surrey and east to the Abbotsford Airport, and wondered if Surrey or Abbotsford would be prepared to help out with road improvements.
He also asked about the intersection at 196 Street, noting that it is on the Surrey-91原创 border.
According to staff, the municipal border runs along 196 Street, but some intersections may be the responsibility of one municipality or the other.
The motion to get the report was carried unanimously by the council. The report is expected to be part of the 2026 Township budget process.
Although it passes through mostly rural areas in 91原创 and is used by locals and winery visitors, 16 Avenue is also a major commuter and truck route, connecting to Highway 99 and the U.S. border crossing in Aldergrove.
Although the speed limit is 60 km/h, most traffic moves considerably faster, and there have been a number of serious and lethal crashes over the years. It is not uncommon for cars and trucks to crash off the road into farmers fields and front yards.
The most recent major crash was on July 8 when a truck tore a power pole in two and crashed on its side in a field.
Previous councils have funded upgrades to 16 Avenue, including signalizing some of the key intersections.
