Anti-mandate protesters gather near B.C. border crossing for second straight weekend

Hundreds of protesters converged on the intersection of 176 Street and 8th Avenue in south Surrey on Saturday as police set up checkpoints to keep demonstrators away from the Pacific Highway border crossing for the second straight weekend.

Hundreds of protesters converged on the intersection of 176 Street and 8th Avenue in south Surrey on Saturday as police set up checkpoints to keep demonstrators away from the Pacific Highway border crossing for the second straight weekend.

Around noon, Surrey RCMP said in a news release that it had closed 176 Street to all traffic from 8th Avenue.

"As a preventative measure, and to help ensure public and officer safety, vehicles and pedestrians cannot access the Pacific Highway border crossing at this time," police said in their release.

"The public are advised to use alternate border crossings during this service disruption until further notice."

Earlier in the day, Mounties set up checkpoints south of 8th Avenue, stopping drivers to confirm they have legitimate business at the border before allowing them to pass.

RCMP are hoping to avoid a repeat of last weekend, when hundreds of protesters marched to the border crossing in solidarity with the self-described "Freedom Convoy" that has occupied downtown Ottawa for several weeks.

Police allege that several officers were assaulted during last weekend's protests, and have said they're investigating Motor Vehicle Act violations allegedly committed by drivers who broke through their barricades on the way to the border.