Thursday, April 24, 2025
Metro Vancouver announced the next stage of early construction work is set to begin in preparation for upgrades to the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, thanks to a $500,000 BC Active Transportation Grant that will support improvements to the Iona Island Causeway.
The Iona Island Causeway is the only access road to the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant and to Iona Beach Regional Park. The narrow two-lane road needs to be upgraded to accommodate increased traffic volumes while enhancing safety for all road users as construction begins on the plant. Upgrades to underground utilities including electricity and natural gas are also required to support the plant.
“Projects as large as the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant are only possible with the support of our partners,” said Mike Hurley, chair of Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors. “The Province’s investment in upgrading the Iona Island Causeway will facilitate better access for construction vehicles working on the wastewater treatment plant while also enhancing safety for visitors to enjoy Iona Beach.”
Causeway improvement construction is slated to begin in May and continue into 2026. Once complete, the improvements will tie in with work completed last year in partnership with YVR along Ferguson Road to provide a cohesive and improved road corridor to Iona Island.
“The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is crucial for the health and safety of residents across surrounding communities,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “Enhancing the access road to the facility will not only ensure more reliable and efficient operations but will also make it easier for people to commute to their jobs or visit the park.”
Work will include:
- Transportation safety improvements to the road, including lane widening, adding a construction vehicle queue lane and bike lanes on both sides of the road
- Upgrades to several underground utilities
- Planting a landscaped boulevard
- Construction of a greenway for pedestrians and recreational cycling
Metro Vancouver is planning upgrades to the existing wastewater treatment plant to ensure the continued protection of public health and the environment in a growing region. The existing plant, commissioned in 1963, currently provides only primary wastewater treatment.
Featured image: (Metro Vancouver)
