Front Street will soon be reopening to vehicles but a month-long closure to a section of Columbia Street is coming up in April – and a lengthy closure of Front Street is planned for the months ahead.
Beginning on begin on Tuesday, April 2, there will be a full one-month closure of Columbia Street and the Central Valley Greenway, between McBride Boulevard and Elliott Street. As part of the Pattullo Bridge replacement project, Fraser Crossing Partners requires the road to be closed so crews can lift steel girders over the roadway between the bridge foundations on either side of Columbia Street.
“While this closure is in effect, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists will be detoured to Royal Avenue,” said a notice about the road closure. “Front Street will be open to regular traffic and trucks, and trucks will continue to use official truck routes (including observing applicable time restrictions).”
According to the latest construction notice from the project team, the Columbia Street loop-ramp will be closed, but access to the Pattullo Bridge will be maintained at all times via McBride Boulevard (Bridge Connector) and the Royal Avenue on-ramp.
Columbia Street, between Sixth and Elliot streets, will remain open for local traffic.
“Access to and from all businesses on Columbia Street and Front Street Mews will be maintained at all times,” said the notice. “Businesses are open, and all traffic pattern changes and detours will be well signed.”
Folks living near the bridge may notice some noise while some of the works associated with this project takes place.
“Once the girders are lifted into place, crews will bolt them together,” explained the notice. “Nearby residents may hear the bolting while it is underway.”
The Columbia Street closure and girder installation activities will take place 24/7, but crews will do as much of the noisy work as possible during the day.
“Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists may experience longer than normal travel times due to detours and higher traffic volumes,” said the notice. “Nearby residents may hear some noise associated while girders are bolted into place.”
Anyone who has specific mobility concerns and needs assistance traversing the area is asked to email [email protected] or call the 24/7 phone line at 1-844-815-6149.
Road openings and closings
As part of this project, Front Street has been closed to vehicles since the end of February. (Access to Front Street businesses has still been provided.)
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure reports that Front Street will reopen to traffic on Saturday, March 23.
“We appreciate people’s patience during construction of this key transportation infrastructure,” said the ministry in a statement to the Record.
Following this spring’s one-month closure of Columbia Street, another closure of Front Street will be required.
The project team reports that a six-month full closure of Front Street is needed so crews can install girders and build the bridge deck between Columbia Street and the in-river bridge foundation. More details will be provided before this work gets underway.
Transportation Investment Corporation, a provincial Crown corporation, is overseeing the $1.377-billion Pattullo Bridge replacement project.
In an April 2023 presentation to city council, Transportation Investment Corporation officials said the new bridge, which is being designed and built by Fraser Crossing Partners, is scheduled to open sometime in 2024.
The Record contacted the province to see if the new crossing is still expected to be complete in 2024.
“Bridge construction is progressing, and more information will be available soon,” said the ministry in a March 20 statement to the Record.
