Construction has been going on for some time, but it was on Oct. 20 that politicians gathered to mark the construction of a series of rail overpasses in Langley and Surrey.

Mayors from both Langleys, Surrey, and Delta gathered near the Langley City-Surrey border where part of the "Combo Project" is being built.

The project includes three overpasses between 192nd Street and 196th. Those in or close to Langley City have been particularly controversial among nearby residents, who are concerned about noise and increased traffic.

Ed Fast, the minister for international trade, was there and received a symbolic toonie from Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender.

When the project had not yet begun, Fassbender gave a loonie to the then-federal minister as a symbolic first payment from the City; the toonie was intended as a final payment, Fassbender said.

Kenneth Zondervan, the Surrey engineer overseeing the project, said that the 196th Street overpass will be completed first, and the 54th Avenue component will be finished around November or December of 2013.

Parts of the new roads and overpasses could open independently, or the project may be opened all at once.

The 192nd Street overpass has to be finished by 2014, when the federal funding expires for the project.

So far, Zondervan said there have only been minor engineering issues, including finding and removing isolated pockets of contaminated soil.

About 50 people are employed on the project, and girders will soon be going into place for the 196th Street overpass.