Variable speed limits no replacement for Hwy 1 widening: mayors

CHILLIWACK (NEWS 1130) – If you’ve ever driven between Abbotsford and Chilliwack, chances are you’ve hit some pretty bad congestion. Or worse, the back of someone else’s car.

Now the province is installing a solution: a variable speed limit system on a 24-kilometre stretch on Highway 1 between the Sumas River Bridge and the Prest Road overpass.

Unlike similar systems already in place near Whistler, Revelstoke, and the Portia Interchange, this system would raise and lower the posted speed limit based on congestion and not weather conditions.

Installation is scheduled to be complete by summer 2019.

Chilliwack mayor Sharon Gaetz says while she’s grateful the Ministry of Transportation is willing to implement traffic solutions in the corridor, what is really needed is more lanes.

“Undoubtedly the widening has to happen,” she says.

“I saw the price tag on the traffic variable signage, and it’s $25 million, which is a whole lot of money. I’m just hoping they can find a whole lot more for what will actually relieve the problem rather than just direct the problem.”

A statement from the city of Abbotsford mirrors Gaetz’s position.

“While we are glad to see action being taking by the province on a congestion-based speed system, what we really need is highway widening to six lanes from Langley to Abbotsford,” the statement reads.

The province says other jurisdictions outside of Canada have reported a 10 per cent drop in serious crashes after variable speed limit zones were put in.

There are roughly 86 severe crashes in the corridor between Abbotsford and Chilliwack every year.

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