Surrey-Langley SkyTrain cost rises by $2B, opening delayed 1 year

The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension isset to be completed a year later than anticipated and on a budget about 50 per cent higher than expected.

In a statement, the Ministry of Transportation said the 16-kilometre extension of SkyTrain to Langley City is now planned to carrypassengers by 2029 instead of 2028 and cost $6 billion to build instead of $4 billion.

"Like all public- and private-sector infrastructure projects, the Surrey-LangleySkyTrain project is being delivered during a time of significant market challenges in British Columbia, across Canada and around the world," the ministry statement read.

"The cost of the project has been updated in response to market conditions, including rising inflation costs and key commodity escalation, supply-chain pressures and labour-market challenges. This has resulted in higher price proposals from contractors."

The ministry says the project's 2022 business case was completed before "significant market and industry changes" altered the timeline and budget.

It says majorconstruction on the line is set to begin this year, with threecompanyteams selected as contractors. Early work,like surveying, hydro line relocationand design, have been happening for months, it said.

"The populations of Surrey, Langley and other communities across Metro Vancouver are growing quickly, and we are committed to building infrastructure to meet these needs," Minister Rob Fleming said in a statement.

"This project will transform how people get around, helping create a more affordable, livable and greener future for people in the region."

The ministry says the extension will allow travellers from Langley City to reach Surrey Centre in about 22 minutes and downtown Vancouver in just over an hour.