Work on the Pattullo Bridge replacement project is underway but in-water activities are temporarily suspended to minimize impacts on the Fraser River fishery.
The replacement project includes the construction of a new $1.377-billion, 330-metre crossing of the Fraser River between New West and Surrey.
“It will be a safer and more reliable crossing. It is a four-lane bridge, toll free with improved safety and reliability for drivers, cyclists and walkers, as well as goods movement,” said Wendy Itagawa, executive project director. “The key features of the new crossing will include modern lane widths, a centre median barrier that will improve safety and use and travel on this corridor improved, and more direct connections to regional road networks on either side of the bridge, wider walking and cyclist paths on both sides of the bridge deck – separated from traffic by a barrier, and new high-quality walking and cycling paths connecting to the bridge, both within New Westminster and Surrey.”
Itagawa recently told city council that preliminary work on the bridge tower’s foundation began in February.
“The in-river bridge foundation construction is now paused, in accordance with our Fisheries and Oceans Canada permit – the DFO permit requirements to minimize impacts on fish habitat,” she told city council April 12. “This work is going to resume in the summer.”
According to Itagawa, construction activities taking place in 2021 as part of the project include site preparation, utility relocation and the construction of the on-land bridge foundations. In terms of local impacts, she said there will be a closure of Front Street later this fall.
“Most of the roadworks won’t be starting till the fall as well. We will be coming out with more information around activities and schedules as we get closer to those dates,” she said. “I think the next big thing is getting back in the river this summer. There will be pile installation for that main tower happening, starting in late June, July. There will be noise associated with installation of the piles. I think that’s probably the next big activity for the project.”
Coordinating construction
Itagawa said the temporary closure of Front Street will last for about two months. She said the project team is working closely with Metro Vancouver to coordinate construction activities.
This summer, Metro Vancouver will undertake work to rehabilitate about 1.6 kilometres of a major sewer line on Columbia Street between McBride Boulevard and Front/Columbia streets.
Itagawa said a comprehensive communications and community relations program has been developed to provide timely information about the project, including construction and traffic information. She said the project team will work with local businesses and residents to mitigate construction impacts where possible and to help manage issues as they arise.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr is pleased to see work beginning on the four-lane bridge that includes lanes on each side for pedestrians and cyclists. With the bridge having been designed in a way that allows it to expand to six vehicle lanes in the future, he questioned where those extra two lanes would come from and those additional vehicle lanes would impact cycling and pedestrian uses on the bridge.
“Right now, we have two lanes of traffic in each direction – four lanes plus the pedestrian/cycling lane on each side. So those would be converted to the third lane in each way, and then a new pedestrian/cycling facility would then be built on each side,” Itagawa explained. “It is designed in a way that it could seamlessly be expanded into the pedestrian and cycling network in New West and Surrey.”
Although the bridge will be constructed in a way to accommodate six lanes, Itagawa said it would still need to go through various approvals and public consultation before that happens.
The new bridge, which is scheduled to open in 2024, will be located just upstream of the existing Pattullo Bridge. Once the new bridge is open, the 1937 Pattullo Bridge will be demolished.
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
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