The provincial government's Gateway Program could come at the cost of lost sleep for some residents of west Abbotsford.

Council approved an application on Monday to allow nighttime hauling at two gravel pits for the next three years.

The material will be used on roads that will be built close to the new Port Mann Bridge, and on the bridge itself.

The gravel will be hauled from two pits on King Road and Bradner Road, for up to seven nights a week, between August 2009 and December 2012. The operating hours are 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

The roads impacted, according to the city, include rural stretches of King, Lefeuvre, Bradner and Huntingdon roads.

Because the gravel application was only pitched to the city on Friday, staff said they have not had any chance to inform affected residents. The city did not have an estimate as to how many people will be impacted, but said the "fair number" mainly live in agricultural areas.

Council reluctantly approved the application, believing the municipality would by overruled by the provincial government if the request was denied, since the gravel is required for a senior government project.

"They [the province] are asking us, but they are only looking for one answer," said Abbotsford Mayor George Peary.

Instead, city representatives will meet with residents, and talk to the applicants, Kiewit Construction and Lafarge Canada, in an attempt to persuade them to be "good corporate citizens" and keep the impact as low as possible.

Coun. Patricia Ross said the city could look at claiming compensation for residents in the affected rural areas.

It is estimated the City of Abbotsford will collect $200,000 to $340,000 during the three-year period through soil removal fees.