Pattullo Bridge Replacement

Last updated
Pattullo Bridge Replacement
Coordinates 49°12′30″N122°53′36″W / 49.208472°N 122.893424°W / 49.208472; -122.893424 (Pattullo Bridge Replacement)
CarriesFour lanes of British Columbia Highway 1A/99A, pedestrians and bicycles
Crosses Fraser River
Locale New Westminster
Surrey
Owner TransLink
Characteristics
Design Cable-stayed bridge
History
OpenedFall 2025
Location
Pattullo Bridge Replacement

The Pattullo Bridge Replacement is a cable-stayed bridge set to open in Fall 2025 that crosses the Fraser River and links the cities of New Westminster and Surrey in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Contents

On July 31, 2008, TransLink opted to replace the Pattullo Bridge, rather than try to refurbish the aging structure. [1] In June 2014, the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council determined that the existing structure will be demolished and replaced with a new, 4-lane bridge. [2] Construction was expected to take place between 2019 and 2023, with the $1.3 billion funding finalized in 2018. [3] [4] On April 1, 2021, construction began on the replacement bridge with an expected opening date in 2024. [5] It is now scheduled for late 2025. [6]

The name, which will be in Halkomelem, of the new bridge will be decided jointly by Musqueam First Nation and Kwantlen First Nation. [7]

Design

The Pattullo Bridge has a number of issues including not seismically sound, having narrow lanes, and having no barriers separating opposite flow of traffic or pedestrians and cyclists. This facilitated a need for a replacement. [8]

The bridge will be built with 4 lanes of traffic allowing for the expansion of 2 more making a total of 6. The city of New Westminster wanted 4 lanes while the city of Surrey wanted 6. [9]

The bridge will feature artwork by Kwantlen First Nation artist q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ, Phyllis Atkins. [7]

History

A key link between Surrey and the rest of Greater Vancouver, the predecessor Pattullo Bridge handled an average of 75,700 cars and 3840 trucks daily, or roughly 20% of vehicle traffic across the Fraser River in 2013. [10]

In June 2014, the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council determined that the existing Pattullo Bridge will be demolished and replaced with a new, 4-lane, tolled replacement bridge. [2] Construction was expected to take place between 2019 and 2023, with the $1.3 billion funding finalized in 2018. [3] [4] It was later decided to not have tolls for the bridge. [8]

On January 3, 2020, the government of British Columbia contracted Fraser Crossing Partners–a joint partnership between Acciona Infrastructure Canada and Aecon Group–to design and construct the replacement bridge. The contract also includes the construction of new road connections at the bridgeheads in New Westminster and Surrey. The new bridge will include pedestrian access and allow for future widening from 4 lanes to 6 lanes. [11]

In February 2021, contractors began installing piles that will form the foundation of the bridge tower. However, this work was temporarily suspended to protect fish and habitat. [12] On April 1, 2021, construction began on the replacement bridge with an expected opening date in 2024. [5] It is now scheduled for late 2025. [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New tolled Pattullo Bridge gets green light". CBC News. July 31, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "2014 Mayors' Council Report on Regional Transportation" (PDF). TransLink. June 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project: Community Connections" (PDF). TransLink. June 13, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  4. 1 2 McElroy, Justin (February 16, 2018). "B.C. government to build replacement for Pattullo Bridge". CBC News . Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Chan, Kenneth (April 1, 2021). "New Pattullo Bridge construction underway, but opening pushed to 2024". DailyHive. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Burns, Anna (May 25, 2024). "Pattullo Bridge replacement delayed again, now projected to open in 2025". Peace Arch News . Retrieved May 29, 2024. The Pattullo Bridge replacement will not open until fall 2025, nearly two years after it was projected to open.
  7. 1 2 Chan, Kenneth. "New Pattullo Bridge to be renamed with new First Nations name in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language". DailyHive. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Project Overview". pattullobridgereplacement. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  9. ↑ McManus, Theresa. "New West mayor-elect: Too soon to consider 6-lane replacement for Pattullo Bridge". New West Record. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Pattullo Bridge Perspective". City of New Westminster. March 5, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  11. ↑ "BC government selects contractor for new $1.4-billion Pattullo Bridge | Urbanized". dailyhive.com. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  12. ↑ Transportation Investment Corporation (April 2021). "Monthly Status Report" (PDF). Pattullo Bridge Replacement. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
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