Broadway Reopens Early, Another Closure Coming
The Mount Pleasant SkyTrain station section of Broadway reopened to traffic this week after a four-month closure, but crews are preparing a bigger disruption upstream.
After a grueling four-month closure of the Broadway corridor between Main and Quebec streets, the city reopened the road to vehicle traffic this morning—though with a catch. Only one lane in each direction is operational right now. All four lanes should return by July 2026, ahead of the original September target, according to city staff.
The Broadway Subway Project had shut down that entire block starting January 26 to complete roadwork outside the new Mount Pleasant Station. The reopening is a relief for businesses and drivers along one of the city's busiest streets, but it's not a full return to normal—yet.
But here's the hard part: another major closure is coming. Project teams at the City and TransLink have determined that a six-month street closure between Alberta and Cambie streets is necessary to accelerate work on the Broadway-City Hall Station. Without this detour, that section would require a 14-month disruption. The new closure won't happen until after FIFA wraps up, to avoid compounding traffic chaos during the tournament.
When it does happen, the street deck won't be removed, so businesses stay fully accessible via sidewalks and nearby parking—a lesson learned from the Mount Pleasant phase. Still, it's significant disruption for a busy stretch of the city.
The Broadway Subway is on track to open Fall 2027, extending the Millennium Line 5.7 kilometers from VCC-Clark to Broadway and Arbutus with six underground stations. The detours are temporary pain for permanent gain, but Vancouver drivers and business owners are living the tradeoff in real time.