TransLink has announced major upgrades to SkyTrain's Brentwood Town Centre Station.

The renovation work—to cost $32.6 million and designed to improve both passenger flow and station accessibility—is expected to start in the coming weeks and will close one of the station's entrances for about a year.

In a March 9 news release, Translink said the planned work "will greatly improve customer access at the south entrance and enhance customer connections to bus service, the nearby mall, and many residential developments".

“The neighbourhood around Brentwood Town Centre Station is one of the fastest growing areas on our system, with 9,000 more homes being added in nearby developments," TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn said in the release. "These station upgrades are part of our commitment to improving the customer experience and making our facilities more accessible and more convenient for everyone.”

The transportation authority noted that the Brentwood station will be the first Millennium Line station since its 2002 opening to undergo major upgrades. It said that Brentwood saw about 6,000 passengers per day board SkyTrains in 2019.

The major addition to the station will come at its south entrance, where a new street-level elevator will be installed.

During the contruction period, passengers who normally use the south entrance will have to cross Lougheed Highway to use the north entrance to access both SkyTrain and bus services.

As well, bus bays 4 and 5—which serve routes 25, 123, and the N9—will be relocated to the west of Willingdon Avenue during the upgrades.

Other changes will include more fare gates and customer room in an expanded mezzanine area, two new escalators, new enclosed staircases, a public-art installation, better lighting, and and real-time digital information displays.

"This project supports the City of Burnaby's vision for Brentwood as a vibrant urban centre where everything you need is within a 15-minute walk," Burnaby mayor Mike Hurley said in the TransLink release. "Improving access at this station will make it even easier for Burnaby residents to shift to more active and sustainable ways in getting around our city, helping us to achieve our all-important climate action targets."