Businesses hit hard by SkyTrain construction in Surrey and Langley

Some businesses say the construction of the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension is hitting their bottom lines hard.

Some business owners along the future SkyTrain route in Surrey and Langley say construction is taking a serious toll on their bottom line.

The nearly $6 billion project will eventually connect Langley City Centre to the Expo Line in Surrey, but in the meantime, many say the disruption is making it harder to stay afloat.

Sungmi Kwon has been running the Westbrook Centre Baskin Robbins location for nearly 30 years. She says access issues have made it difficult for customers to visit, leading to a noticeable drop in revenue.

“Parking lot is blocked, gone,” Kwon said. “It’s very inconvenient,” she added, saying customers aren’t coming in and revenue has dropped between 20 and 25 per cent.

Other businesses are going to great lengths just to stay visible, including hiring people to stand along Fraser Highway and direct customers toward their shops.

“Shops are losing money here—so they send me out here just to advertise,” said Len Bourne, holding a Queens Cannabis sign along the road. “Half the people don’t even know where it is.”

For some, the impacts appear to already be too much. A grocery store in the area has announced it will close at the end of the month.

Many other business owners declined to speak on camera, but nearly all told CTV News they’ve been hit hard. One business owner said sales are down at least 70 per cent this year.

Cory Redekop, CEO of the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, says the situation is critical for some businesses.

“It’s one thing if your commute is an extra 20 minutes, that’s a pain, but for these businesses—it’s life or death,” said Redekop.

He says restaurants and retail are feeling it the most, and believes it may be time for the provincial government to provide support, such as financial relief or low-interest loans.

“I think it might be time for us to look at the issue of compensation,” said Redekop. “I know some groups are looking at maybe low-cost loans or zero-interest loans to help bridge them through.”

Calls for help are not new. During construction of the Broadway Subway, some businesses also called for financial relief, but the province has stood firm.

“Compensation is not something that any government has done on any project in this province,” said Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth in January.

The province says it is helping impacted businesses through improved signage, accessibility and by shifting major construction work to off-peak hours.

For Kwon and others, the focus now is on holding on through the disruption.

“Survive—we have to.”

The Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension is expected to open in late 2029.