Travelers heading to Vancouver International Airport tomorrow may want to leave extra early to avoid Boxing Day traffic around the nearby outlet mall.
Big sales are expected to hit Richmond’s McArthurGlen Designer Outlet on Wednesday, Dec. 26. In anticipation of increased traffic, YVR says it is working with RCMP traffic enforcement and traffic management at the mall, but that travelers heading to the airport should plan for delays.
After the mall opened in 2015, some travelers complained about increased traffic to the airport on significant shopping days, leading them to nearly miss their flights.
“It took us 30 minutes to drive from Marine Drive and Granville Street to the cut-off to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet mall, en route to the Vancouver International Airport — about two kilometres. It, along with the adjoining roads, were literally parking lots,” said John Lumley in a letter to the Richmond News after travelling to YVR last Boxing Day.
“Yes, we made our flight — just. But I’m sure many didn’t, due to traffic congestion.”
To avoid congestion, the airport recommends that travelers, Sea Island employees and shoppers all take the Canada Line, if possible.
