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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
See below for frequently asked questions about project design and construction, funding and budget, and traffic and related projects.
Project Design and Construction:
Why does the project include a signalized intersection rather than a full grade-separated interchange at Lougheed Highway and Coast Meridian Road?
During the project’s design process, the City’s Project Team initially proposed a grade-separated interchange at Coast Meridian and Lougheed Highway.
The final interchange concept, including a signalized intersection, was selected following a comprehensive review of factors such as cost, project scope, traffic patterns, property requirements and environmental impact. In essence, a full grade-separated interchange would have required extensive property acquisitions and caused community impacts as well as much higher capital costs.
How was the design of the acoustic fences selected?
The acoustic fences are a key component of the CMO project’s acoustic mitigation plan, as recommended by BKL Consultants (the City’s acoustic experts). The acoustic mitigation plan was finalized after public input was solicited during three public consultation sessions in 2007. Details of the plan are available on the project website and in various CMO Project publications.
The acoustic fences are located on the east and west sides of Coast Meridian Road, as well as along the new Lougheed-Meridian Connector.
- The acoustic fences are made of attractive architectural concrete, similar to those along the David Avenue Connector in Coquitlam.
- The acoustic fences are stained to a “Canyon Tan” colour and designed to look like a wooden fence.
- The fence height of three metres (about 10 feet) was selected to provide the optimal balance between noise reduction, cost and aesthetics.
The City made a commitment to public consultation at the beginning of the CMO planning process. We’ve maintained constant communication with residents, and in fact, have made changes to the plans over the years to address public concerns, particularly those of residents closest to the project. For example:
- The City completed a comprehensive acoustic impact assessment and has added a variety of acoustic mitigation treatments to the project, including acoustic walls.
- The City provided landscaping elements such as attractive median trees and landscaping, a linear park and a range of habitat plantings.
- The City changed the design of Coast Meridian Road to minimize the project’s impact on nearby homes.
- The City changed the Coast Meridian ramp design to reduce the impact on homes on Gillespie Place and Gillespie Street.
- The City has worked closely with affected homeowners on specific mitigation treatments for their properties.
- The City has worked with businesses to ensure customer access is maintained or enhanced.
Click here for information on the selection of the Coast Meridian Road alignment.
What are the plans for the remainder of lots not used for the overpass?
Through public consultation and to meet federal fisheries requirements, the City has developed the Bridgman Avenue Green Space on the north side of the overpass. Please click here for more information.
Why are part of the bridge pylons painted a bright rust colour?
The pylons are made of self-weathering steel, which will form a protective oxide coating that will withstand corrosion. The bottom portion of the pylons have been painted to provide additional resistance to corrosion from road salts. The pylons will eventually weather and darken to match the painted section.
Funding and Budget
Why did we need to build the CMO now? Why couldn't we have waited?
Traffic bottlenecks at Shaughnessy Street and Mary Hill Bypass were already common at all times of the day, and planned development on Burke Mountain, Dominion Triangle and other areas will create more traffic. The City’s Master Transportation Plan forecasted a significant increase in traffic delays on Lougheed Highway, Kingsway Avenue and Mary Hill Bypass if the CMO had not been constructed.
In addition, if the project had been delayed, the City would have forfeit the $60 million grant from TransLink – a significant portion of the project cost. If that amount had to be funded by external borrowing, the cost would be $4.1 million per year, equivalent to a 7.7% property tax increase.
Why was it worth going into debt?
The external borrowing component of the CMO financing represents 18.5% ($25 million) of the total project cost. The City structured the financing as much as possible to make use of internal reserves, which will be repaid over time.
As you can see from the answer to the question above, this project is of critical importance to the vitality and livability of the City of Port Coquitlam. At times, it is necessary for a community to incur debt to meet immediate needs (not unlike individuals obtaining a home mortgage). As well, borrowing for large infrastructure projects allows the payment to be spread out over time, minimizing the tax impact and sharing the cost between current and future users of the project.
Interest rates were also favourable at there time, and the City borrowed through the Municipal Finance Authority and achieve the most competitive interest rate available.
Why are Port Coquitlam taxpayers paying for improvements that will help Coquitlam?
Almost half of the project budget is being paid by grants from TransLink and others, so in essence, taxpayers from across the region and the province are contributing substantially to this local project.
Sometimes a local infrastructure project will benefit other communities. For example, the David Avenue Connector is used frequently by Port Coquitlam residents, although the City did not contribute to the construction costs. The Coast Meridian Overpass may be used by other communities, but clearly everyone in Port Coquitlam will benefit from the increased access and mobility the project will bring, from businesses to residents to emergency responders. It may be important to the region, but it is even more important to our community.
How does the CMO affect other City capital projects?
The normal capital program will not be affected, however other major capital works will be considered now that the CMO has been constructed. Each year’s five-year Financial Plan will consider the timing and value of capital projects and the associated financial impact on taxpayers.
It’s also important to note that a significant amount of the project’s impact on the City budget is for repayment of the reserves, so those funds will be available for future capital expenditures.
There is a cost to any improvement, and the community has told the City on many occasions that transportation is a priority.
How much did the city pay for aerial rights over the CP Rail yards?
The City has entered into a confidential agreement with the CPR regarding the Coast Meridian Overpass. While the details of that agreement are confidential, the City can advise that the City’s commitments to the CPR primarily relate to mitigating the impacts of the CMO Project on the operation of CPR’s Port Coquitlam Yard.
Traffic and Related Projects
Because the CMO is part of the Major Road Network, will there be a lot of truck traffic?
Coast Meridian Road is defined as an arterial road within the City’s Official Community Plan. As such, Coast Meridian Road already accommodates some commercial goods movement.
As a designated truck route, Coast Meridian Road will accommodate a higher volume of commercial vehicle activity. The bulk of this commercial vehicle activity will be related to the development of north Port Coquitlam and northeast Coquitlam. Once those two areas are substantially developed (in about 10 years), the volume of commercial vehicle traffic on Coast Meridian Road is expected to drop off to a lower, stable level What upgrades to Mary HIll Bypass are being planned that would complement the Coast Meridian Overpass project?
The Provincial Government's Gateway Program includes several projects that are either under construction or in the advanced planning/design stage that will improve traffic flow on the Mary Hill Bypass.
- The Port Mann Bridge-Highway 1 project will eliminate the extensive queuing and delays on westbound Mary Hill Bypass (due to existing capacity limitations at the Coleman Interchange). The Mary Hill Bypass traffic will then have direct (free flow) access onto Highway 1 in both directions at the twinned Port Mann Bridge. Gateway staff advise that the improvement is scheduled for completion between 2009 and 2013.
- The new Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange project will reduce lineups and delays for traffic travelling over the Pitt River. This will significantly improve conditions on Lougheed Highway and the Mary Hill Bypass.
- The longer-term Gateway Program also includes the construction of grade-separated interchanges on Mary Hill Bypass where it crosses Broadway Avenue, Pitt River Road and Shaughnessy Street. These interchanges will significantly improve capacity and safety on the Mary Hill Bypass.
- The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been requested to provide short-term improvements for the existing at-grade intersection of Mary Hill Bypass at Broadway Avenue. These include signal timing adjustments, increased left-turn capacity, etc.
Please click here for information about the CMO's regional context.
How many vehicles will use the Coast Meridian Overpass in 2010?
The City retained Urban Systems Ltd to provide advice regarding the Master Transportation Plan (assesses the CMO) and to provide advice regarding potential traffic volumes following the opening of the CMO Project. Urban Systems Ltd has projected that approximately 1,600 vehicles (two-way total) would use the Coast Meridian Overpass in the peak hours as of 2011. Shaughnessy Street, Maple Street, Kingsway Avenue, Lougheed Highway are several of the routes that will experience improved accessibility.
Will the traffic on the Coast Meridian Overpass and surrounding roads be monitored?
The City has completed intersection traffic counts on all arterial roads prior to the opening of the Overpass to traffic. The City will undertake the following traffic monitoring program:
- Staff will observe traffic conditions on a weekly basis after the overpass has opened until the traffic system has stabilized.
- Staff will collect traffic data on all major roads approximately three months after the Coast Meridian Overpass opens.
- Staff will report to the Transportation Solutions and Operations (TSO) Committee of Council regularly regarding traffic conditions.
- Staff will collect data on all modes of traffic on the Coast Meridian Overpass and report to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) and TransLink.
What existing roads are expected to experience traffic increases -- and decreases -- as a result of the CMO opening?
The City retained Urban Systems Ltd to provide advice regarding the Master Transportation Plan (assesses the CMO) and to provide advice regarding potential traffic volumes following the opening of the CMO Project. Urban Systems Limited has analyzed the traffic conditions for the opening of the Coast Meridian Overpass and have not identified a significant likelihood of traffic using local streets. Shaughnessy Street, Maple Street, Kingsway Avenue, Lougheed Highway are several of the routes that will experience improved accessibility. The City and ICBC have completed corridor safety studies based on traffic conditions after the overpass opens (Coast Meridian Road, Pitt River Road, etc.).
What further improvements are scheduled for Broadway Street?
The Broadway Street Reconstruction Project will provide improvements to capacity and safety on Broadway Street between Kingsway Avenue and the Mary Hill Bypass. The Broadway Street Reconstruction Project includes the following elements:
- Two through lanes in each direction
- Dedicated left-turn lanes at each intersection (Langan, Cameron, Industrial etc.)
- Two-way left-turn lanes for remainder of Broadway
- Marked bicycle lanes in each direction
- Sidewalks on both sides
- Intelligent Transportation System
- Full traffic signals on Broadway Street at Langan Avenue, Cameron Avenue and Industrial Avenue
- Capacity improvements at the Broadway Street and Kingsway Avenue intersection
