East Broadway to Close for Four Months as Subway Work Intensifies

Vancouver’s East Broadway at Main Street will undergo a full closure starting on January 26, 2026, as construction crews prepare to remove a temporary road deck. The closure, lasting approximately four months, will significantly disrupt traffic in the Central Broadway area.

The provincial government announced the closure in October 2025, detailing that the one-block stretch between Main Street and Quebec Street would be off-limits to all vehicles. This closure is necessary to facilitate the removal of the four-lane road deck bridge, which was completed in April 2022 to support the underground construction of the Mount Pleasant Station for the Broadway extension of the SkyTrain’s Millennium Line.

The closure will begin at 07:00 on January 26, affecting key bus routes including TransLink’s 99 B-Line, No. 9 Boundary/UBC, and N9 NightBus. These buses will detour to East 8th Avenue, with a temporary traffic signal installed at the intersection of Main Street and East 8th Avenue to enhance bus movements. New bus queue jumpers and dual turn lanes will also be introduced. General vehicle traffic is expected to reroute through other arterial roads such as 12th Avenue and 2nd Avenue, while East 8th Avenue and Quebec Street will remain open for local access.

During the closure, pedestrian sidewalks will stay open to ensure access to nearby businesses and residences. Following the four-month period, vehicle traffic will return to East Broadway with one lane in each direction, while work on the remaining two lanes will continue. The full completion of the road reconstruction is anticipated in Summer 2026, aligning with the new design that includes four vehicle lanes and widened sidewalks, as approved under the Broadway Plan by the City of Vancouver.

The community response to the prolonged closure has been one of concern, particularly from local businesses. The Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association (MPBIA) has expressed fears that the upcoming construction will further strain businesses already struggling due to ongoing disruptions. In December 2025, the MPBIA urged the provincial government for emergency financial relief and requested that the municipal government ease curbside parking restrictions to help mitigate the impact.

“Businesses are already facing the consequences of previous disruptions,” said MPBIA executive director Neil Wyles. “Many owners have sold their homes to keep their businesses afloat, and with the next shutdown looming, we are worried that it could accelerate losses.”

The removal of the temporary traffic decks across various subway construction sites, including Broadway-City Hall and Oak-VGH, is part of the project’s final stages. These traffic decks were initially installed to maintain vehicle traffic while crews excavated below for the stations. With the roofs of the underground structures nearing completion, roadway restoration is set to begin.

Construction on the Millennium Line’s Broadway extension commenced in Spring 2021 and is projected to conclude in Fall 2027. The upcoming months will be critical for both the construction schedule and the local businesses, as they navigate the challenges presented by the extensive roadworks.

In summary, the full closure of East Broadway at Main Street is a significant step in the ongoing construction of the Mount Pleasant Station, with essential detours and adjustments planned to minimize disruption for commuters and local residents.