DELTA, B.C. — The South Fraser Perimeter Road, which will improve the flow of goods in the Lower Mainland of B.C., is now 80% complete, according to officials.

“The Government of Canada is supporting the new South Fraser Perimeter Road project, which has already brought benefits to local communities through new jobs, and will continue to bring economic growth and prosperity to the region and the rest of Canada,” said MP Nina Grewal. “The new road will make a significant difference in the Metro Vancouver region through improved efficiency, reliability and capacity of the Lower Mainland road network, and like other Asia-Pacific Gateway projects, it will help increase Canada’s exports to fast-growing markets throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”

The new four-lane road is slated to open in December.

“This new route will help expand our markets and make B.C. more competitive by connecting key port, rail and highway infrastructure. It will also make communities and neighbourhoods safer for families by removing heavy truck traffic from residential roads,” said Todd Stone, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Officials said the new South Fraser Perimiter Road involved one of the largest environmental and agricultural improvement plans for a highway project in B.C. The route will run 40 kilometres along the south side of the Fraser River. The eastern portion in Surrey opened in December 2012. It’s expected the new route will cut roundtrip travel times from Delta to Hwy. 1 in Langley by an hour.