New Highway 11 interchange construction starts on Trans-Canada Highway

New Highway 11 Interchange Project in Abbotsford

Travel through the eastern areas of the Lower Mainland is expected to improve. This follows the awarding of the design-build contract for the new Highway 11 (Sumas Way) interchange project on Highway 1 in Abbotsford.

Drivers will face short-term challenges due to major construction. This work will widen Highway 1 from eastern Metro Vancouver into the Fraser Valley.

Project Goals and Timeline

The interchange project is part of the Fraser Valley Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Program. It aims to reduce congestion on the Trans-Canada Highway, improve commuter travel times, and support efficient goods movement. Construction is set to begin in January 2026.

“We know people in the Fraser Valley find travel increasingly difficult, given the traffic volume on Highway 1,” said Mike Farnworth, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Transit.

Farnworth added, “The upgrades we’re making to Highway 11 will not only reduce bottlenecks but also improve transit and active forms of transportation.”

Traffic and Capacity Needs

This section of Highway 1 in Abbotsford sees about 80,000 vehicles daily. Highway 11’s interchange with the Trans-Canada Highway has high freight truck and vehicle traffic. More capacity is needed for current and future demand.

Contract Details

The $242-million contract has been awarded to Metro Vancouver (Infrastructure) Partnership. This joint venture includes Hall Constructors, Jacob Bros., and EBC Inc. The work involves replacing the Highway 1 and Highway 11 interchange to accommodate a wider highway and growing traffic volumes.

Improvements Planned

Planned improvements include widening 2.1 kilometers of Highway 1 from McKenzie Road to just east of the Highway 11 interchange. New high-occupancy vehicle and electric vehicle lanes will be added, along with bus-on-shoulder lanes for better transit reliability. The project will also replace the Riverside Road and rail overpass.

Active Transportation Infrastructure

The project will provide new truck parking and improved active transportation infrastructure. Intersections at Highway 11 and Marshall Road, as well as Highway 11 and Delair Road, will be upgraded. New multi-use paths, sidewalks, and bike lanes will enhance mobility for cyclists and pedestrians.

Community Support

Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens welcomed the construction start. He noted Abbotsford’s strategic importance in regional and international transportation networks.

Siemens said, “As the hub of the Fraser Valley and a key link in the North American Asia-Pacific Gateway, being able to move through and around our city is vital.”

Funding and Future Plans

The Highway 11 Interchange Project is part of Phase 3B of the Highway 1 widening program. This phase is supported by $2.65 billion in provincial funding. The eight-kilometer widening project between the Mount Lehman Road interchange and the Highway 11 interchange is expected to be completed in 2031.

This section of Highway 1 currently has four vehicle lanes. Once complete, it will have up to nine lanes, including five westbound lanes and four eastbound lanes.

Future Expansion Plans

Two additional major construction contracts under Phase 3B are expected to be awarded in early 2026. There are also plans to widen Highway 1 farther into the Fraser Valley, between the Highway 11 interchange and the Vedder Canal in Chilliwack.

This future Phase 4 project will require more planning and will be more costly. It will involve expanding the highway over 18 kilometers and improving flood resilience.

Phase 4 will run through the Sumas First Nation reserve and Sumas Prairie, an area that faced major disruptions during the floods of 2021 and 2025.