You’re sitting at the intersection of West Broadway and Main Street, watching a seagull pick at a discarded fries carton while your GPS ETA climbs steadily higher. It’s a classic Vancouver moment. We’ve all been there.
Honestly, if you live in the Lower Mainland, complaining about the commute is basically a secondary personality trait. But here’s the thing: while everyone loves to moan that traffic in Vancouver BC is the absolute worst in North America, the reality on the ground in early 2026 is a weird mix of "it’s getting better" and "everything is a construction zone."
If you haven't been paying attention to the news lately, the city is currently a giant jigsaw puzzle of orange cones and steel plates.
The Broadway Subway and the 4-Month Squeeze
The biggest headache right now is undoubtedly the Broadway Subway Project. Just a few days ago, on January 15, 2026, TransLink dropped the news that a massive chunk of East Broadway—specifically the block between Main and Quebec streets—is shutting down for four full months. Starting January 26, that stretch is a no-go zone for cars.
Why? They’re finally ripping out those temporary "traffic decks" (those metal bridges you’ve been rattling over for a couple of years) to finish the street above the new Mount Pleasant Station.
If you’re a driver, you've probably already felt the pinch. Buses are detouring down East 8th Avenue, and the city has police officers stationed 24/7 at key intersections to keep things from devolving into total chaos. It’s messy. You've got to budget at least an extra ten minutes if you're crossing through the heart of the city during rush hour.
But it’s not just the subway.
Why the New "Pattullo" Isn’t Quite a Full Bridge Yet
For decades, the Pattullo Bridge was the stuff of nightmares. Narrow lanes, no divider, and a general feeling that you were one sneeze away from a head-on collision.
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The replacement—now officially named the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge (also known as the Riverview Bridge)—partially opened just before Christmas 2025. It was a huge milestone. But if you’ve driven it this week, you know it’s still a work in progress.
As of right now, in January 2026, we’re in "Phase 2." The old bridge is finally closed for good (RIP to those terrifyingly skinny lanes), and all traffic has shifted to the new structure. However, it's not "full speed ahead" just yet. Crews are still dismantling the old 1937 span, which means Front Street and various ramps in New Westminster are facing intermittent closures. We won't see the full pedestrian and bike paths until mid-2026.
The Numbers: Is Vancouver Actually Slower Than Toronto?
People love to argue about this at the pub. TomTom’s latest data actually puts Vancouver as the most congested city in Canada, often edging out Toronto for the title of "slowest 10km drive."
In 2025, the average driver in the Vancouver metro area lost about 46 hours to congestion. That’s nearly two full days of your life spent staring at the bumper of a white Tesla.
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Interestingly, while the number of hours lost stayed relatively flat compared to 2024, our "last-mile" speeds—how fast you move when you actually get close to the downtown core—clock in at a dismal 19 mph (roughly 30 km/h).
- Average 10km travel time: 26 minutes (and rising).
- Worst day to drive: Typically Thursdays between 4 PM and 5 PM.
- The "30 km/h" Factor: The City of Vancouver is currently rolling out a phased 30 km/h speed limit on all local residential streets. If you feel like things are moving slower, they literally are.
The Massey Tunnel: The 2030 Goal
If you’re commuting from Richmond or Delta, you’re likely obsessed with the George Massey Tunnel. Right now, it's all about the Steveston Interchange. The new overpass actually opened to traffic in December 2025, which has slightly smoothed out the merging madness at Highway 99.
But the actual eight-lane tunnel? That’s still a long-haul project. Major geotechnical work is happening this month on Deas Island, and the provincial government is targeting a 2030 completion date.
How to Actually Get Somewhere in 2026
If you’re trying to navigate traffic in Vancouver BC without losing your mind, you need a strategy that isn't just "leaving earlier."
- Trust the "Transit Signal Priority": TransLink has been adding "queue jumpers" for buses along the Broadway detour routes. Often, the 99 B-Line or the R4 will beat a car through the bottleneck because the lights are literally programmed to let them go first.
- The Google Maps Lie: In Vancouver, Google Maps often underestimates the "bridge effect." If there's a stall on the Ironworkers or the Lions Gate, that "5-minute delay" is almost certainly twenty. Check the @DriveBC Twitter (X) feed or their live cams before you commit to a crossing.
- Use the New Steveston Interchange: If you’re heading south, the new dual right-turn lanes onto Steveston Highway from southbound Highway 99 are finally operational. It’s a small win, but it saves about four minutes of idling.
- Avoid the "Main & Quebec" Trap: Until May 2026, avoid East Broadway between Main and Quebec. Take 2nd Avenue or 12th Avenue instead. Even though they’re busy, they aren't literal construction pits.
Vancouver traffic isn't going to get "solved" anytime soon. With the population growing by over 3% annually, we're basically adding a small city’s worth of cars to the road every year. The current strategy is clear: make driving slow enough that you'll eventually give up and take the SkyTrain.
Until that subway opens in 2026/2027, we're all just stuck in the squeeze.
Actionable Next Steps for Commuters:
- Audit your route: If you usually take Broadway, switch your GPS settings to "avoid road closures" to see if 12th Avenue or King Edward saves you more than the theoretical 5 minutes.
- Check the Tunnel Schedule: If you use the Massey Tunnel, bookmark the Highway 99 Tunnel Program website for the "Daily Navigation Notifications" to avoid the frequent overnight lane closures happening through March 2026.
- Prepare for 30 km/h: If you live in one of the 25 new "Slow Zone" neighborhoods, expect more speed humps and gateway signage appearing this spring as part of the Vision Zero rollout.