Drivers travelling on Granville Street through the Marpole neighbourhood in South Vancouver should prepare for very significant traffic delays this month as the municipal government undertakes intensive sewer upgrade work.
According to a City of Vancouver bulletin on Friday, construction crews will be working around the clock for about a week and a half from Monday, Jan. 5 to Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 to complete a critical phase of the Granville Street sewer upgrades project. To accommodate the work, several short-term traffic restrictions will be in effect.
The Granville Street sewer upgrades project is a $20-million project that focuses on replacing aging combined sewer infrastructure in Marpole with new separated sewer pipes. Once completed, the upgraded system will better support population growth, handle heavier rainfall, and help the City meet its goal of eliminating combined sewer overflows by 2050. The overall project remains on track and is expected to be finished by Spring 2026, with construction first beginning in Fall 2025. This is in addition to the nearby Oak Street sewer upgrade project just to the east.
From Monday, Jan. 5 to Thursday, Jan. 15, the busy arterial route of Granville Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction over a seven block-long stretch (about 0.7 km) between West 57th Avenue and West 64th Avenue. Left turns onto Park Drive will not be permitted during this period.
Additional restrictions will be introduced starting Sunday, Jan. 11 through Jan. 15. Along with the ongoing Granville Street lane reductions, Park Drive will be fully closed in both directions between Granville Street and French Street.
The City states all of these closures are scheduled to end by 7 a.m. on Jan. 15. At that time, Granville Street is expected to return to two daytime lanes in each direction, though night work will continue. Park Drive is anticipated to fully reopen once construction at the intersection with Granville Street is complete.
Granville Street between West 57th Avenue and West 64th Avenue. (Google Maps)
According to the municipal government, the work is being done on an accelerated schedule to minimize overall disruption. By compressing the construction timeline, crews aim to complete the most complex intersection work more quickly and avoid a longer period of traffic impacts.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, check navigation apps before travelling, and allow extra time for trips — particularly for those heading to or from Vancouver International Airport.
Public transit riders should check TransLink alerts for possible bus service changes along Granville Street.