If you’ve lived in the area long enough, a plan to build the Casano-Loutet overpass has likely been on your radar for decades.
Now, it will finally go ahead, according to the City of North Vancouver.
On Friday, the municipality announced that it received $4 million in provincial funding, allowing for the construction of the pedestrian bridge to finally go ahead.
Once built, the long-awaited infrastructure project will link the Loutet and Cedar Village neighbourhoods.
“Through public consultation efforts since 2017, the city has heard clearly from residents that Highway 1 can be a barrier to travel between neighbourhoods, pushing them to take more vehicle trips versus a quick walk, ride or roll,” the statement reads.
The B.C. government’s investment adds to existing commitments of $3.5 from the city and $2.5 million from TransLink.
The work is scheduled to break ground in early 2025 and is expected to take a year to complete, said Amanda Gibbs, spokesperson for the city.
"There will be some impacts to highway traffic during later phases of construction as the bridge structure is being assembled," Gibbs said. "Most of the bridge will be constructed off site and brought in to minimize the overall impact."
All residents want to move around the community as efficiently and safely as possible, Mayor Linda Buchanan said in the release.
“The Casano-Loutet overpass will connect two communities in the city that were cut off from one another by the creation of Highway 1,” she said. “The overpass will create a safe and active transportation connection that gives people options when deciding on how to get to school, work, shopping and recreation destinations that has not been available to residents since the 1960s when the highway came to the North Shore.”
The new overpass design features a gradual, curving form that extends over the Upper Levels Highway between Loutet Park and the intersection of Casano Drive and Rufus Avenue. It will be accessible to users of all ages and abilities, and will include seating areas with built-in lighting, staff said.
The structure will provide a more direct alternative to Lynn Valley Road, in particular for students travelling north and south to Sutherland Secondary. It will also link to the nearby Green Necklace and future Upper Levels Greenway.
