​Burns Road north of Dominion Avenue in Port Coquitlam will be fully closed from Aug. 29 until Sept. 19 for an important culvert replacement project that will help protect the area from potential flooding.

In order to minimize the length of the temporary full road closure, construction on Burns Road is currently underway with single lane alternating traffic patterns. Signs and traffic control staff have and will continue to be in place to direct pedestrian, cycling and vehicle traffic toward alternate routes during the closure. All businesses in the construction area remain open and accessible throughout construction from Prairie Avenue.

The project entails replacing an existing, deteriorated culvert that conveys the fish-bearing Dominion Slough under Burns Road, along with structural upgrades to the road. The City is limiting the full closure to three weeks in order to allow traffic to flow back on the route as early as possible. Work will continue after the three-week closure where single lane alternating traffic will be reimplemented and the work will conclude in late October.

Road users are asked to follow all instructions and detours. An interactive map showing the road closure can be found at portcoquitlam.ca/roadclosures.

The project is part of the City’s ongoing work to upgrade important infrastructure and prepare for the impacts of climate change, including flooding. Heavy rainfall and winter storms in recent years have advanced the need to construct a number of culvert, pipe and pump station upgrades. The Burns Road culvert is a critical upgrade prior to the upcoming winter season and storm events.

The culvert is part of a large drainage system and a critical piece of infrastructure which serves most of east Port Coquitlam and drains into the Pitt River. It has continued to deteriorate over the years and required temporary repairs in 2019 and 2022. Further deterioration and failure would cause significant flooding in the area, and major safety concerns to the public and property.

Featuring a fish-friendly design, the new culvert will have a larger capacity to accommodate increasing rainfall intensities and creek volumes. The City appreciates your patience, understanding and co-operation during this important construction project to help minimize the risk of flooding and longer term, reactive impacts.

Details about this and other capital projects can be found at portcoquitlam.ca/capitalprojects. 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca