Another section of blacktop is being laid down on 208 Street in 91原创's Willoughby neighbourhood, part of the ongoing project to widen the road to four lanes along its length from 64 Avenue to the highway.

Paving began on Tuesday, July 30 south of 72 Avenue, along what will be the southbound lanes when the widening is complete.

Contractors have previously prepared and paved sections of the northbound lanes, which are currently serving traffic heading north and south while the opposite side of the road is under construction.

Township Mayor Eric Woodward said it was "good to see that finally underway."

The paving work had been scheduled to start earlier, but had been delayed to coordinate some work with BC Hydro, said Woodward.

In recent weeks, power poles had been removed, lamp posts installed, and concrete curbs built along the west side of the road.

Woodward noted that contracts for the second phase of work, north of 72 Avenue, have also been awarded and should begin soon.

Township council has been talking about widening 208 Street for years.

When Willoughby began to develop in the late 1990s, with the Willowbrook Connector at the south end and a then-new overpass across the Trans Canada Highway at the north end, that stretch of the road became increasingly busy.

But the road was only widened by developers as individual lots were built out. Most of the stretch of the road north of 77A Avenue has now been widened to four lanes, but it was a slow process, proceeding in fits and starts as each site was developed.

South of 77A Avenue, there was little development, and only a small amount of the road had been widened at all.

The current council voted for a full widening shortly after taking office in late 2022. Work began last year.