The Surrey 91原创 SkyTrain is on track to open in late 2029, B.C.'s transportation minister said.

With the construction comes road closures, including one along Fraser Highway, which will see the road closed between 140 Street and 96 Avenue for seven months from April 1 to Oct. 31 to facilitate construction, with "tentative" detour routes available.

During Monday's council meeting, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said she is anticipating some public ire related to that.

There was no mention of the closures and their potential impact on commuters during the press conference in Fleetwood Friday (Feb. 28) at the construction site of the 152 Street station. 

The Fleetwood Business Improvement Association represents about 120 properties, 4,000 businesses and 5,000 jobs along the corridor, its executive director Dean Barbour said.

"We're really excited about this project, really excited about what's going to come with the project," Barbour said. "The businesses, I can tell you are looking forward to having close to 30,000 new residents in their catchment area to attract new business and so we're here to tell you that we are open for business, despite the construction." 

The Minister of Transportation and Transit, Mike Farnworth, said he is confident the project will remain within the $6 billion budget, but they are monitoring it closely. 

Farnworth said he is mindful of what is happening in the United States and the threat of tariffs, but the contracts for this project are already in place and many of the materials, such as the iron and steel, are produced in Canada. 

"The reality is this project is being built and is going ahead and it's going to be fantastic for the region, with the growth and the economic development that comes with it," he said. 

Meanwhile, Locke said she is happy to see a large investment in rapid transit in Surrey, for the first time "in over three decades."

"The 16-kilometer extension will enhance regional transportation connections and offer fast, reliable transit service, particularly for those of us living south of the Fraser River and once completed, this new line will transform how our communities connect, especially Fleetwood and Cloverdale," she added. 

The project involves the extension of the Expo line from King George Station to 203 Street in 91原创. Primarily along Fraser Highway, along an elevated guideway, when finished it will place riders 22 minutes between both points and just over an hour from the 91原创 terminus station to downtown Vancouver.

"People from around the region will be able to visit businesses and attend events without having to worry about paying for parking or gas, workers will have an easier time commuting to work, which will help businesses South of the Fraser find more qualified staff, and it will help address the province's housing needs by supporting transit oriented development along the alignment," Farnworth added.

Eight stations are being built, with six of them in Surrey. The first is Green Timbers at 140 Street, supported by piers in the centre, like Brentwood Station in Burnaby. Next is 152 Street Station which will include a pedestrian overpass over 152 Street, then Fleetwood Station at 160 Street, Bakerview-166 Street Station with a transit exchange at that location, Hillcrest Station at 184 Street and then the last station in Surrey 鈥� Clayton Station at 190 Street 鈥� moving on to Willowbrook then 91原创 City Centre Station at 203 Street.

Major construction on the project started in the fall of 2024.

One of this year's focuses is on the guideways. "Construction of the foundations for what will be approximately 200 guideway piers and columns is underway that will continue throughout the year, along with the start of construction of the Surrey Green Timbers and 91原创 city centre stations," Farnworth said. 

In the spring, crews will start casting over 44,400 concrete segments that form the guideway. 

Randeep Sarai, MP for Surrey Centre, noted that the federal government has invested up to $1.3 billion in the project.  

"These investments have a positive impact in many different areas of our economy," he said. "As our population continues to grow, it is more important than ever that we ensure we build the right infrastructure now to construct a prosperous and sustainable future for all."

The extension is projected to see more than 50,000 boardings every day during the week, TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn said

"That's enough to fill the 91原创 Event Centre more than nine times. By 2050, it should result in over 10 million more transit trips per year, amounting to a 106,000 ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."

91原创 City mayor Nathan Pachal said he is excited to see the community be more connected to the rest of the region.

鈥淭he SkyTrain expansion will make travel between communities easier, strengthen connections among residents, businesses and communities, and create new opportunities throughout the region.鈥�

-With files from Tom Zytaruk