Boxing Day causes congestion in area of Vancouver airport, mall

Traffic in the area of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) was heavily congested Friday, as one of the year’s busiest travel days coincided with one of the busiest shopping days.

YVR Communications Manager Alyssa Smith says the roads are jammed every year as Richmond’s McArthurGlen Designer Outlets mall holds its annual Boxing Day sales.

“It’s a popular sale. It’s a popular mall. We do see a lot of traffic coming for those sales,” said Smith.

“We are reminding travellers to pay attention to the latest traffic advisories and Google Maps and things like this to understand how long it’s going to take to get to the airport.”

1130 NewsRadio traffic anchor Alex Carrigan says Friday has been “messy” on the roads in the area.

“We can see in Richmond’s public cameras that crews are out on Grant McConachie Way, westbound, directing traffic into the right lane if they’re en route to the outlet mall. This is being done to free up traffic on the way to YVR,” Carrigan explained.

But he says the messiness extends into Vancouver.

“Arthur Laing Bridge, southbound, is getting pushed into Vancouver. South West Marine Drive, westbound, is slow from Cambie Street to the Arthur Laing Bridge. That’s keeping traffic on the Oak Street Bridge, northbound, because they can’t use that South West Marine Drive offramp — it’s too busy. Bridgeport, westbound, leads up to Sea Island Bridge but that’s the back of the line for the Grant McConachie Way merge.”

Carrigan is advising drivers to get to Bridgeport, park, and take the SkyTrain to Templeton to avoid congestion.

Smith offered the same advice to shoppers. To flight customers, or those visiting the airport, she advised budgeting an extra 15 to 20 minutes on the road.

—With files from Kate Walker

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