RICHMOND, B.C. — Truckers stand to benefit from the opening of a new Nelson Road/Hwy. 91 interchange that will streamline truck access to Port Metro Vancouver, the province of B.C. announced.

The new interchange extends Nelson Road north from the Westminster Highway to connect to Hwy. 91. The province says the benefits include: improved access to Port Metro Vancouver while reducing truck traffic on Westminster Highway, west of Nelson Road; reduced traffic bottlenecks on the Westminster Highway and improved highway safety; and less congestion for farmers as a result of industrial truck traffic being rerouted off Westminster Highway.

“About half of the traffic accessing Nelson Road each day is truck traffic,” said Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond East on behalf of Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom. “Giving truckers a better route to Port Metro Vancouver will help them stay on time and reduce traffic on Westminster Highway making life easier and safer for families and farmers.”

“Port Metro Vancouver is Canada’s gateway to the world’s most dynamic economies and serves as a major economic generator for British Columbia,” added Robin Silvester, president and CEO, Port Metro Vancouver. “As the port plans for growth in the coming years, gateway infrastructure investments like this one will be key to improved efficiency and access, and at the same time, ensure benefits to local communities.”