Vancouver International Airport (YVR) area faced heavy traffic congestion on Friday, a result of the bustling travel day coinciding with a major shopping event.
According to YVR Communications Manager Alyssa Smith, the annual Boxing Day sales at Richmond’s McArthurGlen Designer Outlets mall draw in significant crowds, leading to the usual road jams in the vicinity.
“The sales at the mall are highly popular, attracting a large influx of traffic,” Smith noted. “Travelers are urged to stay informed by checking the latest traffic updates, using tools like Google Maps to gauge travel times to the airport.”
Traffic anchor Alex Carrigan from 1130 NewsRadio described Friday’s traffic situation as chaotic, with crews on Grant McConachie Way in Richmond guiding vehicles towards the outlet mall to ease congestion on the route to YVR.
The congestion also spilled over to Vancouver, as indicated by Carrigan. He reported slowdowns on key routes like Arthur Laing Bridge and South West Marine Drive, affecting traffic flow towards the airport.
To navigate the traffic snarls, Carrigan recommended drivers park at Bridgeport and utilize the SkyTrain to reach Templeton, while Smith advised shoppers and flight passengers to factor in an extra 15 to 20 minutes for their travel time.
—Contributed by Kate Walker