British Columbia Highway 7

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Highway 7
Formed: 1941
West end: Highway 99 in Vancouver
Major
junctions:
Hwy 99A in Vancouver
Hwy 1A in Vancouver
Hwy 1 in Coquitlam
Hwy 7A in Coquitlam
Hwy 7B in Port Coquitlam
Hwy 11 in Mission
Hwy 9 in Kent
East end: Hwy 1 near Hope, BC
Major cities: Vancouver
Burnaby
Coquitlam
Port Coquitlam
Pitt Meadows
Maple Ridge
Mission
Kent
British Columbia provincial highways
< Hwy 6 Hwy 7A >

Highway 7, known as the Lougheed Highway, is an alternative route to Highway 1 through the Lower Mainland. 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 Station SkyTrain station in Burnaby
The Lougheed Highway just east of Brentwood Station SkyTrain station in Burnaby
Lougheed Highway in Burnaby, near the Production Way SkyTrain station.
Lougheed Highway in Burnaby, near the Production Way SkyTrain station.

Highway 7's total length is 149 km (93 mi). Beginning at Granville Street in Vancouver, Highway 7 travels east along Broadway for 9 km (6 mi) to Boundary Road, crossing into Burnaby. Highway 7 crosses into Coquitlam 10 km (6 mi) east of Boundary Road, reaching its junction with Highway 1 at the Cape Horn Interchange another 5 km (3 mi) southeast. The highway then turns immediately northeast, and goes for 6 km (4 mi) before it reaches a junction with Highway 7A and turns southeast, crossing into Port Coquitlam at Westwood Street just ½ km (1,600 ft) later.

Just 5 km (3 mi) east of entering Port Coquitlam, 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.