British Columbia Highway 7

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Highway 7
Lougheed Highway
Length:	118 km (73 mi)
Formed:	1941
West end:	Westbound Highway 1 Exit in Couquitlam (Western Segment) Ottawa Street in Port Coquitlam (Western Segment)
Major junctions:	Hwy 1 in Coquitlam Hwy 7B in Port Coquitlam Hwy 11 in Mission Hwy 9 in Kent
East end:	Colony Farm Road in Coquitlam (Western Segment) Hwy 1 near Hope (Eastern Segment)
Major cities:	Vancouver Burnaby Coquitlam Port Coquitlam Pitt Meadows Maple Ridge Mission Kent Hope
British Columbia provincial highways < BC 6 BC 7B >

Highway 7, known for most of its length as the Lougheed Highway, is an alternative route to Highway 1 through the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. Whereas the controlled access Highway 1 follows the southern bank of the Fraser River, Highway 7 follows the northern bank.

Highway 7 was first commissioned in 1941, and originally went from Vancouver to Harrison Hot Springs, following the Dewdney Trunk Road between Port Moody and Port Coquitlam. In 1953, Highway 7 was moved to its modern alignment between Vancouver and Coquitlam. Highway 7's eastern end was moved south from Harrison Hot Springs to Agassiz in 1956, and then moved east to Ruby Creek in 1968. Highway 7 has gone all the way to a junction with Highway 1 just past Hope since 1973.

Unlike former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed's name (pronounced "LAW-heed"), the Lougheed in Lougheed Highway is pronounced "LOW-heed".

[edit] Route details

The Lougheed Highway just east of Brentwood Town Centre SkyTrain station in Burnaby

Highway 7's total length is 118 km (93 mi). The Western segment begins at the westbound exit with Highway 1 near Schoolhouse Street, the total length is 2.3 km. The highway then turns immediately northeast, meets with Highway 1 at the Cape Horn Interchange and immediately after, an exit with United Boulevard. The highway terminates 300 m after the interchange.

Highway 7 begins again after Ottawa street, and then Highway 7 crosses over the Pitt River Bridge into Pitt Meadows. 6 km (4 mi) southeast of the Pitt River bridge, Highway 7 crosses into Maple Ridge at Maple Meadows Way, and the highway then crosses into Mission another 20 km (12 mi) east. 9 km (6 mi) of Highway 7's entry into Mission, it meets a junction with Highway 11. 8 km (5 mi) east of the Highway 11 junction, Highway 7 leaves Mission over the Hatzic Pump Bridge.

27 km (17 mi) east of the Highway's eastern exit from Mission, Highway 7 enters the Municipality of Kent. 14 km (9 mi) east, Highway 7 reaches a junction with Highway 9 at Agassiz. 18 km (11 mi) northeast of the Highway 9 junction, Highway 7 leaves Kent. Another 12 km (7 mi) northeast, Highway 7 finally reaches its eastern terminus at a junction with Highway 1 at Haig, just across the Fraser River from the main part of Hope.

[edit] Highway 7 Exits

Highway 7 Exits

Entering the City of Coquitlam Highway 7 ends, continues Lougheed Highway to Burnaby, Vancouver To Highway 1 Westbound From Westbound Lougheed only; end of freeway Coleman Avenue Westbound exit only, right in right out Highway 1 east to Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford via the Port Mann Bridge No access to Highway 1 westbound from Highway 7 at this interchange United Boulevard to Highway 7B (Mary Hill Bypass) east Partial at-grade interchange Highway 7 ends, restarts east of Ottawa Street in Port Coquitlam Entering the City of Port Coquitlam Highway 7B (Mary Hill Bypass) west to Coquitlam New interchange under construction Pitt River Bridge over the Pitt River - Entering the City of Pitt Meadows New bridge under construction Dewdney Trunk Road Allen Way Harris Road Park Road, Meadow Gardens Way To Golden Ears Way southbound to Langley, Surrey via the Golden Ears Bridge Eastbound exit only Meadowtown Centre Way south; North to Golden Ears Way/Abernethy Conector Use this exit to access northbound Golden Ears Way from 7 Eastbound Golden Ears Way overpass Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Meadows Way south to Golden Ears Way southbound Use this road to access southbound Golden Ears Way from 7 Westbound Expressway ends, continues as 4-lane arterial road through Maple Ridge Entering the District of Maple Ridge Haney Bypass eastbound to Mission Highway 7 continues onto the Haney Bypass around the city centre along the Fraser River, while Lougheed Highway continues through Maple Ridge City Centre Haney Bypass westbound to Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam Exiting the Greater Vancouver Regional District, District of Maple Ridge Continues as 2/4-lane highway to Mission Entering the Fraser Valley Regional District, District of Mission Highway 11 (Abbotsford-Mission Highway) to Abbotsford, Cedar Valley Connector Continues thru Mission as one-way road pair Murray Street to Horne Street expressway connector to Highway 11 Leaving the District of Mission Continues as 2-lane highway to Kent Entering the District of Kent Highway 9 (Hot Springs Road) to Harrison Hot Springs, Else Road Begin Highway 9 overlap Highway 9 (Evergreen Drive) to Agassiz City Centre End Highway 9 overlap Agassiz Bypass to Highway 9 (Haig Highway) Leaving the District of Kent Highway 1 south to Hope, Greater Vancouver, north to Cache Creek