Surrey Council Approves $5.3M Contract for Newton Centre Roadworks

Surrey City Council has approved a contract worth $5,316,600 for B&B Heavy Civil Construction Ltd. to undertake essential road and utility work that will facilitate access to the upcoming $310.6 million Newton Community Centre. The construction is slated to begin in March 2026 and is expected to be completed by the summer of that year.

The new community centre is set to open in 2030 and will be located on the east side of King George Boulevard, adjacent to the Newton Arena and the Newton Seniors Centre. The centre aims to enhance accessibility for traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists, as explained by Scott Neuman, Surrey’s general manager of engineering.

Project Scope and Funding Details

Neuman elaborated on the scope of the project in a corporate report, stating that the road improvements are designed to support future Bus Rapid Transit access to the Newton Bus Exchange. This initiative is part of a broader effort to develop the ultimate Newton Town Centre road network.

Key improvements will include the extension of 70 Avenue from King George Boulevard to 138 Street, as well as enhancements along 136B Street from 70 Avenue to 71 Avenue. Construction activities will be permitted from 07:00 to 22:00, Monday through Friday.

Funding for the project will be shared, with 22 percent covered by TransLink for its public transportation component. The remaining 78 percent will come from development cost charges. For utility work, approximately 87 percent of the funding will also come from development cost charges, with the remaining 13 percent sourced from general revenue.

Community Centre Features and Council Discussions

The planned Newton Community Centre will boast a range of amenities, including a 50-metre swimming pool, a leisure pool, a hot tub, a cold pool, and a sauna. Additionally, it will feature two full-size gyms, a fitness centre, a mat-room, childcare facilities, and space for arts and cultural programs. Notably, the centre will also include a 40,000-square-foot library, which is double the size of the current Newton branch.

During the council meeting, Councillor Mandeep Nagra raised concerns about the funding, questioning the expenditure on off-site servicing work at a previous proposed community centre site located west of King George. Neuman mentioned that he did not have the exact figure but estimated it to be around $5 million. Nagra expressed reservations regarding the current recommendation, suggesting that the city could have utilized the funds already spent on the previous site to expedite the development of a recreation centre there.

In a related decision, on January 26, 2024, council awarded a separate contract valued at $6,359,850 to Mainland Construction Materials ULC, trading as Winvan Paving. This contract involves major road network paving across 30 lane-kilometres of roads, primarily in the northern region of Surrey, with a spending limit set at $6,550,000.

Neuman highlighted that the goal of this project is to maintain a state of good repair while implementing coordinated roadwork, including median modifications along 104 Avenue to enhance left-turn bay storage lengths. Work on this contract is set to commence in spring and is expected to be completed by fall.

The approval of these contracts marks a significant step forward for Surrey as it looks to improve infrastructure and community resources in the Newton area.