Front Street will soon be off-limits.
The team working on the Pattullo Bridge replacement project has announced that Fraser Crossing Partners will implement a one-month full closure of Front Street, between Begbie Street and East Columbia Street, starting the week of Feb. 5. Fraser Crossing Partners is designing and building the new four-lane crossing of the Fraser River.
“This closure is required for crews to offload steel girders, build temporary support structures, and begin installing girders, which will form the new bridge deck, between Front Street and Columbia Street,” said a notice from the project team.
Front Street Mews, the stretch of Front Street running in front of local businesses, will remain open.
Work will be taking place Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but the road closure will be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“While this full closure is in effect, drivers will be detoured to Columbia Street,” said the notice. “Trucks will continue to use official truck routes (including observing applicable time restrictions). All traffic pattern changes and detours will be well signed, and traffic control personnel will be on site to direct traffic as required.”
The upcoming road closure isn’t the last time roads in New Westminster will need to be closed as part of the project.
“Additional closures of both Front Street and Columbia Street will be required to install girders and build the new bridge deck over the roadway. The next closure will be a full closure of Columbia Street for crews to lift girders across this section of roadway,” said the notice. “Front and Columbia will not be closed at the same time, and more information will be provided in advance.”
In a December 2023 report to council, staff outlined some of the impacts the Pattullo Bridge replacement project would have on city streets in the coming months.
Last spring, representatives from Transportation Investment Corporation appeared before city council to provide an update on the project and to warn the city about some of the road closures that would be required to build the new bridge.
At its Jan. 8, 2024 meeting, council approved an exemption to the city’s construction noise bylaw so Metro Vancouver and its contractor Ram Consulting can do some sewer work on Front Street between Jan. 15 until Feb. 29. The staff report noted that project had intentionally been timed to coincide with the closure of Front Street for the Pattullo Bridge replacement project.
