Burrard SkyTrain Station to close for 2 years to complete 'major upgrade': TransLink

Rendering of the upgrade concourse at Burrard SkyTrain Station. (TransLink)

Vancouver — A busy downtown Vancouver SkyTrain station will be closed for two years to complete "a major upgrade," TransLink announced Tuesday.

Upgrades to Burrard SkyTrain Station will begin in early 2022, the transportation authority said in a news release. The station will close during that time so work can be "done safely and more efficiently that were it to remain partially open during construction."

Upgrades will include doubling the number of escalators and elevators, relocating the entrance, redesigning the outdoor plaza and upgrading the station's power supply.

“These significant upgrades are necessary to keep our transit system operating effectively and efficiently for our customers,” said TransLink interim CEO Gigi Chen-Kuo in a news release.

“With more than 7.6 million annual boardings in 2019, Burrard Station is the fourth busiest station on our SkyTrain network. These upgrades will greatly improve the customer experience and as the region prepares to welcome one million new residents by the year 2050, this important project allows us to be prepared for additional future demand.”

TransLink also says closing the station will help minimize confusion for customer travel patterns during construction, reduce overall construction time and save as much as $35 million.

The transit authority says Waterfront and Granville stations should both be able to accommodate the extra passenger traffic. Additional bus service will be added to the area, though TransLink hasn't specified which routes that'll be on.

More details on the closure and construction projects are expected later this year.