A vehicle incident on Highway 1 eastbound at the 160th St overpass in Surrey has blocked the HOV lane. Emergency crews are on scene. Drive with caution and expect delays.
Surrey Traffic Update: HOV Lane Blocked on Hwy 1 Eastbound
Surrey, British Columbia — A vehicle incident has left drivers facing delays and a blocked high‑occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on Highway 1 eastbound at the 160th Street overpass, according to traffic reports. Emergency crews are on site and working to manage the situation, and motorists are being urged to drive carefully through the area.
Right now, the incident has caused the HOV lane to be blocked eastbound, which means traffic is slowing and congestion is building just before the 160th Street overpass. Although details are still coming in, first responders are actively assisting at the scene and directing traffic.
What Happened? Initial Reports from the Scene
While official details about the cause of the incident have not yet been released, motorists travelling on Hwy 1 eastbound have been advised that a vehicle incident occurred near the 160th Street overpass. Because of this, the dedicated HOV lane has been blocked, and traffic is merging into the remaining lanes.
Emergency responders — including fire crews, police and towing teams — are attending to whatever situation prompted the blockage. Drivers in the area should expect slower travel times and should be prepared for potential stops or lane shifts as crews work to clear the incident.
At this time, authorities have not provided precise information about injuries or vehicle damage, and investigations could still be underway. However, given that emergency personnel are actively controlling the scene, it’s clear that this is not a minor traffic slowdown. As a result, commuters should plan for delays and, where possible, consider an alternate route to avoid the area altogether.
Safety Reminders for Drivers in Surrey
Incidents like this one near the 160th Street overpass serve as a reminder of how quickly traffic conditions can change, especially on major corridors such as Hwy 1. For drivers currently on the highway or planning to travel through East Surrey:
- Stay alert: Watch for emergency vehicles and follow directions from traffic control personnel.
- Merge early: If you encounter a blocked HOV lane, slow down and merge into the adjacent travel lane well before the overpass.
- Leave space: Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and others, particularly around emergency responders.
- Plan ahead: Check a traffic app or DriveBC for updates before setting out.
Even when the incident appears minor, slowing traffic and rubbernecking can quickly lead to further backups or secondary incidents.
Traffic Conditions and Updates
At the time of writing, delays are building in the eastbound direction as drivers adjust to the change in lane availability. This congestion could extend back several kilometres, especially during peak travel times. Because the HOV lane is intended to ease congestion by letting vehicles with multiple occupants move more freely, its blockage has a disproportionate impact on traffic flow.
Although authorities have not confirmed how long the blockage will last, emergency workers are actively working to remove the vehicle and restore lane access. Once that happens, traffic should begin to return to normal. For now, however, drivers should treat the overpass area as a slow‑moving zone.
Why It Matters for Commuters
Highway 1 is one of the busiest roadways in the Lower Mainland, and incidents like this highlight how important it is to stay informed about real‑time conditions. Even when incidents affect only one lane, such as the HOV lane, they can ripple outward and cause:
- Slower travel times, especially during rush hours
- Unexpected merges, which increase the risk of minor collisions
- Driver frustration, leading to risky behaviour on the road
That is why officials always recommend that motorists pay attention to traffic feeds, practise patience and make safety the priority. This is particularly true in Surrey, where heavy commuter traffic is common and disruptions can have a broader impact on daily travel plans.
Looking Ahead
As the roadway incident at the 160th Street overpass continues to unfold, Surrey drivers and those commuting through East Surrey should expect ongoing updates and changes in traffic flow. Emergency crews are on site, which is reassuring, but until the blockage is cleared, congestion will remain.
In the meantime, keep these tips in mind: check traffic before heading out, respect the instructions of first responders, and, most importantly, drive with caution when approaching the affected section of Highway 1.
If or when authorities release more detailed information about the cause of the incident, injuries, or timing for full lane reopening, further updates will become available through official traffic channels. For now, your safest bet is to be patient, stay aware and make sure you leave extra travel time if you need to be on Hwy 1 eastbound near 160th Street.
