Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will soon have easier access to and through Port Coquitlam's Dominion Triangle area with the opening on Dec. 13 of the Fremont Connector.

A long-time component of the city's future transportation plans, the Fremont Connector is an important north-south arterial road linking Lougheed Highway and the Mary Hill Bypass with the road network in northeast PoCo.

The road has been built between the Lougheed-Mary Hill interchange and Dominion Avenue by the developer of the eastern portion of Dominion Triangle, Con-West Contracting Ltd., which will turn the road over to the city.

"The Dominion Triangle will bring our community a diverse range of jobs, from retail to commerce to industrial," Mayor Greg Moore said in a press release. "The Fremont Connector is an important piece of the developing road network in that area, and will help us grow our local economy while improving access for our residents and businesses."

The new road has been constructed to full arterial standards, with four travel lanes, sidewalks and bicycle lanes. Tying in to the existing two-lane Burns Road at its north end, the new road will provide the following options for drivers:

. Using the Fremont Connector to access development on Sherling Avenue and Hawkins Street and to access the Mary Hill Bypass.

. Using the Fremont Connector and Sherling Avenue to access the Pitt River Bridge.

. Using Prairie Avenue and Burns Road to access the Fremont Connector.

As part of its Master Transportation Plan process in 2011 and 2012, the city has been reassessing the need, cost and benefits of eventually extending the Fremont Connector north of Dominion Avenue. The schedule for extending the Fremont Connector north of Dominion will be subject to further study, the pace of development in the area, and funding.