TransLink had previously announced that it planned to close the Burrard SkyTrain station in early 2022 for two years to upgrade its nearly 40-year-old infrastructure. Now, the transit company says it is returning to the plan for a new plan because the old one is too expensive. “This is due to the continuing pressures in the construction industry caused by global supply chain problems and higher construction costs,” TransLink said in a statement released on Friday. This means that the station will not be closed to passengers, while the company and its stakeholders have a new budget and schedule. The scale of the project now also needs to be discussed. The work was to double the number of escalators and elevators at the station, relocate the entrance to Burrard Street and redesign the station’s outdoor square. The crews were also going to upgrade the station’s power supply and mechanical systems. TransLink said that while details are being finalized, it will continue to prioritize some upgrades to ensure the station remains in good repair. Burrard Station was originally built in 1985 before Expo 86 as part of the Expo line. TransLink says the station is the fourth busiest on the SkyTrain network.
