British Columbia

Evergreen SkyTrain line plazas to be built this summer

It's another milestone in the long-awaited SkyTrain extension known as the Evergreen Line — construction is starting on public plazas at several stations.

Evergreen Line is 85% complete and expected to be in service by early 2017, says province

B.C. Community Minister Peter Fassbender (centre, with daffodil pin) tosses dirt in the air with other local and provincial officials to mark the start of construction on Evergreen Line's Inlet Centre Station plaza, which will be built this summer. (Christer Waara/CBC)

It's another milestone in the long-awaited $1.4 billion SkyTrain extension known as the Evergreen Line — construction is starting on public plazas at several stations in Port Moody and Coquitlam, B.C.

Today, B.C.'s Community Minister Peter Fassbender was joined by other officials at a groundbreaking event for the public plaza at Inlet Centre Station, which will be completed this summer.

The plazas are designed to be welcoming, functional public spaces with places to sit, bike racks, landscaping and public art, according to a release from the provincial government.

At this point, the Evergreen Line is considered to be 85 per cent complete, with tunnel boring and tracks finished and many station buildings complete too.

Last September, the province said the 11 kilometre line would be finished by the end of 2016, but a few months later officials said it would be early 2017 before the line is in service.

An artist's rendering showing the future look of Inlet Centre Station on the Evergreen Line in Port Moody, B.C. (B.C. Government)