Vancouver to face record-breaking construction projects this summer

There are only two real seasons in Canada winter and construction: that adage is certainly going to feel true this summer.

The City of Vancouver says it's going to see a record-breaking 130construction projects this summer and it'swarning commuters to plan ahead for major slowdowns in key arteries of the city.

Traffic snarls

Construction on thePattulloBridge one of the biggest projectsstarts this weekend and will render the whole bridge closed from 8 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m.Monday.

After that, it will be open for only one lane in each direction until early October.

"We're suggesting to people that they expect an additional 40 minutes of travel time," saidJenniferMorland, a TransLink spokeswoman.

Thewater main work on PenderStreetthat started last year will continue this summer into August. Driverswill only have one eastbound lane available between Carralland Seymour streets.

Some of themajor work along the Burrard corridor will continue as the bridge undergoes upgrades. The city will leave at least one lane open betweenDavie Street and 17th Avenue,but it is warning the public to expect delays.

A major section of SouthWest Marine Drive will also befullyclosed heading west from Granville Streetuntil the end of the summer.

The city will also work onthe downtown bike network alongBeatty Street, Cambie Street northbound,Richards Street southbound,Smithe Street westbound and Nelson Street eastbound.

Special events

About 125 special events and more than 20 film shoots will also affect traffic in plenty of Vancouverneighbourhoods.

"It starts off with the BMO Marathon this weekend and awhole seriesof special events after that," said JerryDobrovolny, the city's generalmanagerof engineering

"We've got nine peak cruise ship days in May alone, so we're really pleased that the tourism events are back, that the film and special events are back. So there's going to be a very wide mix of activities on the city's streets."