Broadway at Main to close late January for subway work

Vancouver’s Broadway at Main will fully close for four months starting late January 2026 for subway construction, disrupting traffic and businesses

Road Closures in Vancouver’s Central Broadway Area Starting January 2026

Travel times will increase for east-west routes through Vancouver’s Central Broadway area. Full road closures on East Broadway at Main Street will start at 7 a.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, and will last for about four months.

Details of the Road Closure

In October 2025, the provincial government announced that the one-block section of East Broadway between Main Street and Quebec Street would close to all vehicles. This closure is necessary to remove the temporary four-lane road deck bridge built in April 2022 for the underground construction of Mount Pleasant Station, part of the Broadway extension of SkyTrain’s Millennium Line.

Impact on Public Transit

During the closure, TransLink’s 99 B-Line, No. 9 Boundary/UBC, and N9 NightBus buses will detour one block north via East 8th Avenue. A temporary traffic signal will be installed at Main Street and East 8th Avenue to improve bus movements. New bus queue jumpers and dual turn lanes will also be added. Vehicles will access East Broadway again via Quebec Street.

Traffic Detours and Local Access

General vehicle traffic will detour through 12th Avenue and 2nd Avenue. East 8th Avenue and Quebec Street will remain open to drivers to ensure local access to businesses and residences. Pedestrian sidewalks will stay open during the full vehicle closure.

Future Road Conditions

After four months, in late Spring 2026, one vehicle lane in each direction will reopen on East Broadway. Work will continue on the remaining two lanes. By Summer 2026, the block will have four vehicle lanes, two in each direction, and wider pedestrian sidewalks. This design was approved by the City of Vancouver under the Broadway Plan.

Business Concerns

Businesses in the area have expressed concerns about the upcoming closure. In December 2025, the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association (MPBIA) requested emergency financial relief from the provincial government and asked the municipal government to ease parking restrictions. MPBIA believes that without support, many businesses may not survive the disruptions.

Community Impact

During a recent town hall, some business owners shared they sold their homes to keep their businesses open. Others are working second jobs to manage expenses. MPBIA executive director Neil Wyles noted the visible impact of closures, stating, “These are real people running out of time, money, and options.”

Future Construction Plans

The provincial government has not yet decided how to remove the remaining temporary traffic deck bridges at other subway station construction sites. Similar full road closures may occur. These traffic decks were installed to maintain vehicle traffic while crews built the stations. Their removal indicates the project is nearing completion.