Surrey – The City of Surrey will officially open two new overpasses during tonight’s Council Meeting by turning on the illuminated artworks that exist on the structures.
The overpasses span Highway 99 and Highway 1 and complete major links in the city’s network of cycling and pedestrian paths, and serve as signature landmarks.
“These projects are a vital link in our greenway program and represent the largest investment in cycling infrastructure in our city’s history. The overpasses connect neighbourhoods, encourage residents to get out of their vehicles, promote physical activity, and further the City’s image as a leader in engineering design and public art,” says Acting Mayor Councillor Marvin Hunt.
The Tynehead overpass over Highway 1 at 168th street is 122 metres long and connects Tynehead Regional Park with the Fraser Heights community. The Pioneer overpass over Highway 99 at 35th avenue spans 73 metres and connects neighbourhoods on both sides of the highway to regional cycling routes and eventually will connect to the U.S. border. The projects include 3.9 km of pathways and 9.6 km of on-street bike lanes.
As part of the Build Surrey program, the City of Surrey is undergoing a comprehensive expansion of walking and cycling opportunities and is developing 29 km of pedestrian and cycling pathways, 92 km of on-street bike lanes and 28 km of park paths over the course of the program.
The two new public art projects, which consist of nighttime light features that will transition between themes, are part of the City’s public art program and are designed to enhance Surrey’s livability and cultural vitality.
“I am very proud of the strong design of these two overpasses,” says Councillor Judy Villeneuve, liaison to the Public Art Advisory Committee. “These illuminated artworks, created by two award-winning artists, provide Surrey with two signature gateways for people entering our city.“
John Webber designed the art lighting on the Tynehead Overpass, and Doug Welch designed the Pioneer Overpass illumination. Both designs utilize energy-efficient LED lighting. The artworks enhance the architectural design of the overpasses, which were created by the team of Busby, Perkins + Will Architects and Associated Engineering.
The projects are a partnership between the City of Surrey and the federal and provincial governments through the Building Canada Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
– City of Surrey Website, www.surrey.ca