There is now some real visual progress on the project to build a new replacement crossing for the Pattullo Bridge between New Westminster and Surrey.
Work just recently reached completion on the final segments of the cable-stayed bridge’s main tower, now rising 167 metres high above the Fraser River — taller than the towers of the Port Mann Bridge.
Earlier this spring, the first segment of the bridge deck was installed. And just earlier this month, the first suspension cables went in to support the first bridge deck segment.
But based on the significant amount of work yet to to be completed on the main span of bridge, the approaches, and the improvements to the existing road networks on both sides of the river, the targeted completion and opening of the crossing in half a year from now by the end of 2024 has become increasingly extremely unlikely.
This was confirmed by the Government of British Columbia today, as the new replacement Pattullo Bridge is now slated to open in Fall 2025. As well, the new Broadway Subway — the extension of SkyTrain Millennium Line to Arbutus in Vancouver — will now open in Fall 2027 instead of early 2026.
When major construction work first began in Spring 2021, the targeted opening date was late 2023. Shortly after, in Spring 2022, this opening date was moved to 2024.
Construction progress on the new Pattullo Bridge, as of May 2024. (Government of BC)
According to the provincial government, as the project began construction amidst the pandemic, it was particularly impacted by supply chain delays for special components from manufacturing hubs including China, France, Italy, India, Indonesia, and Spain. After the pandemic, there were continued supply chain impacts to the fabrication of bridge components, particularly structural steel shipments from China.
As well, construction within the river took longer than expected, adding to the supply chain delays.
“This is actually a very narrow point in the river, so the hydraulics and the location are quite complicated with the fast-moving water,” Wendy Itagawa, the provincial government’s executive director for the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project, told Daily Hive Urbanized in an interview.
“So through design, we really had to make sure that we assessed the hydraulic performance of the new bridge and to make sure that we didn’t impact downstream structures of the CN railway bridge and the existing Pattullo Bridge.”
Construction progress on the new Pattullo Bridge, as of May 2024. (Government of BC)
Construction progress on the new Pattullo Bridge, as of May 2024. (Government of BC)
The contractor, working with the project office, also had to abide with provincial and federal regulations and permitting processes relating to environmental considerations, especially in an effort to reduce the impacts to fish movements. Itagawa says these considerations dictated when exactly crews could work within the river, along with coming up with mitigation strategies, such as creating “bubble curtains” for the fish.
This especially relates to installing 27 piles, each 2.5 metres in diameter, for the foundations of the main in-river tower.
With the “starter” segment of the bridge deck now installed, she says, they will now begin the balanced cantilevered construction progress of gradually branching out the cable-stayed bridge deck, which will span 530 metres directly over the river and be supported by 80 cables. This centre span of the bridge deck is expected to reach completion in early 2025.
Meanwhile, work will continue on completing the on-land bridge structures on both sides of the river that will link up with the cable-stay bridge span, as well as the approaches, including the major upgrades to the existing road networks. There will be temporary vehicle traffic pattern changes, including a forthcoming six-month closure of Front Street to finish the steel erection on the New Westminster side.
In Fall 2025, immediately after the new bridge opens, work will begin on decommissioning and demolishing the adjacent existing 1937-built bridge.
More to come…
Construction progress on the new Pattullo Bridge, as of May 2024. (Government of BC)
Construction progress on the new Pattullo Bridge, as of May 2024. (Government of BC)