Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists travelling near McBride Boulevard and East Columbia Street this weekend will be facing some detours.
Several temporary traffic changes are taking place from 7 p.m. on Friday, May 24 until 5 a.m. on Monday, May 27.
The closures and detours are part of the Pattullo Bridge replacement project’s improvements to the McBride Boulevard and East Columbia Street intersection. The intersection requires modifications to improve safety for walkers, cyclists and drivers, and to accommodate the new direct East Columbia Street off-ramp from the new bridge.
“Lane closures and directional detours will be required,” said a notice about this weekend’s work. “This work will take place while the Columbia Street closure between McBride Boulevard and Elliot Street is in effect to minimize disruption to drivers.”
Here’s what motorists, pedestrians and cyclists can expect from this weekend’s work, if they’re travelling in the vicinity of McBride Boulevard and East Columbia Street:
- Drivers travelling westbound on East Columbia Street (toward the downtown) will be detoured to Front Street and Braid Street to access the Pattullo Bridge via Bridge Connector.
- One lane of traffic on East Columbia Street eastbound (heading toward Sapperton) will be maintained.
- One lane of traffic on McBride Boulevard southbound from Royal Avenue (going toward the river) will be maintained.
- Traffic on McBride Boulevard northbound will not be permitted.
- Pedestrians and cyclists will be detoured to Royal Avenue.
“Eastbound drivers will be detoured to Royal Avenue. Westbound drivers will be detoured to Front Street and Braid Street/Eighth Avenue,” said the notice. “Columbia Street between Sixth Street and Elliot Street will remain open for local traffic only.”
Access to the Pattullo Bridge will be maintained via the Bridge Connector and the Royal Avenue on-ramp, said the notice.
According to the notice, traffic control personnel will be on site to direct traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists.
This work is weather dependent, so it will be rescheduled if the weather is wet/rainy this weekend.
Businesses open and accessible
Columbia Street and the Central Valley Greenway have been closed between Elliot Street and McBride Boulevard since April 2. That closure was originally expected to be in effect for one month but was later extended until the end of May because installation of the structural supports for the girders is taking longer than anticipated.
During this weekend’s work, 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.”
Transportation Investment Corporation, a provincial Crown corporation, is overseeing the $1.377-billion Pattullo Bridge replacement project and Fraser Crossing Partners has designed and is building the new bridge. In April 2024, the project team said it planned to open the new bridge in 2024 but would provide more details as the opening nears.
