UPDATED: Through-traffic restrictions for Main Street overpass and Waterfront Road in Vancouver to support cruise operations
April 4 update: New traffic management changes are being made to support ongoing efforts to restrict through-traffic and relieve congestion on Waterfront Road, including a checkpoint being set up at the intersection of the Main Street overpass and Waterfront Road on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Waterfront Road plays a critical role supporting operations at the Canada Place cruise terminal, as a key port access route that passenger buses and businesses provisioning visiting cruise ships (such as those providing food and beverages, ship supplies and maintenance equipment) use to service visiting cruise ships.
Effective Monday, April 8, drivers of non-commercial vehicles wishing to access Waterfront Road from the Main Street overpass will need to demonstrate proof of business. Those without it will be turned around. All commercial vehicles, taxis and rideshares, as well as those accessing Harbour Air, Helijet and CRAB Park, will be permitted access without proof of business.
Proof of business can include the following:
- Employee ID (with address bordering Waterfront Road)
- Business card that matches photo I.D., i.e. a driver’s licence
- Parking decal for a Waterfront Road parking lot
- Exhibitor pass for the west or east convention centres
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority traffic monitoring since the City of Vancouver’s Gastown traffic diversions started in early March shows of Waterfront Road experienced a significant increase in traffic and congestion in March.
The traffic restrictions are expected to remain in place for the duration of the city’s Gastown roadworks and pedestrian pilot, which are scheduled to run until the end of August.
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Starting March 1, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is implementing new through-traffic restrictions for drivers using the Main Street overpass and Waterfront Road to access downtown Vancouver.
The restrictions are in place to ensure cruise operations are not impacted by traffic diversions related to the City of Vancouver’s closure of Maple Tree Square in Gastown for repairs and the Water Street Pedestrian Zone Pilot in Gastown over the summer. The Main Street overpass and Waterfront Road have experienced disruptive traffic congestion in the past when streets in Gastown are closed to vehicle traffic.
The restrictions are expected to remain in place for the duration of the city’s Gastown pedestrian pilot, which is scheduled from July to August.
Anyone needing to access the Canada Place cruise terminal, Vancouver Convention Centre, Harbour Air, Helijet, south shore businesses or CRAB Park can still use the Main Street overpass and Waterfront Road.
The port authority operates under a mandate to enable Canada’s trade including cruise—and Waterfront Road and the Main Street overpass play a critical role supporting safe, efficient and reliable operations at the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver. The roads are key port access routes that passenger buses and businesses provisioning visiting cruise ships (such as those providing food and beverages, ship supplies and maintenance equipment) use to access and service visiting cruise ships.
The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver plays a vital role supporting Canada’s cruise industry. As a homeport destination, each cruise ship visit injects an average of more than $3 million into the local economy, supports nearly 7,000 jobs across Canada and $300 million in wages, and contributes $840 million to Canada’s GDP.
2024 is expected to be a busy cruise season at the Port of Vancouver, with 329 cruise ship visits currently scheduled between March 11 and October 29.
For more details on the Maple Tree Square closure, Water Street Pedestrian Zone Pilot and associated traffic diversions, please contact the City of Vancouver directly at [email protected].