Closure of SkyTrain walkway at Metrotown draws criticism

The overhead walkway connecting Metrotown SkyTrain station to Metrotown Mall was permanently closed on Wednesday.

Passengers wanting to get to the mall and the bus loop will now have to walk down some stairs and cross Central Boulevard. There will be no escalators into the station and new elevators won’t open until the spring.

The change comes amid a series of upgrades.

“The next stage of the process is to demolish the eastern portion of the station, so that’s where the overpass connects,” TransLink spokesperson Chris Bryan said of the walkway. “Unfortunately, it will be inconvenient for our passengers.”

TransLink is asking riders using the station to add an extra five to 10 minutes of travel time to their commute.

People with mobility issues are asked to use the HandyDart service to shuttle between stations.

The stairway has proven difficult for parents of young children as stairs and strollers can prove to be a treacherous mix.

“Every stair is shaking the whole stroller, so I was a little bit worried,” parent Dominik Lussi said.

Once passengers negotiate the stairs, they still have to cross the street.

One transit driver told Global News Central Boulevard is an accident waiting to happen.

“There’s been two, three close calls already this morning,” he said. “I’m just saying the timing on it, I don’t think it could have been any worse. I really don’t.”

– With files from John Hua