Pattullo Bridge

{{Short description|Bridge in New Westminster and Surrey, British Columbia}}

{{Infobox Bridge

|bridge_name = Pattullo Bridge

|image = patullobridge.jpg

|carries = Four lanes of British Columbia Highway 1A/99A, pedestrians and bicycles

|crosses = Fraser River

|locale = New Westminster
Surrey

|owner = TransLink

|design = Through arch bridge

|length = {{convert|1227|m|ft|sp=us}}

|open = {{Start date and age|1937|11|15}}

|coordinates = {{coord|display=inline,title|name=Pattullo Bridge|49.207575|N|122.894654|W}}

|traffic = 75,700

}}

The Pattullo Bridge is a through arch bridge that crosses the Fraser River and links the cities of New Westminster and Surrey in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia. It was named in honour of Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, the 22nd Premier of British Columbia. A key link between Surrey and the rest of Greater Vancouver, the Pattullo Bridge handles an average of 75,700 cars and 3840 trucks daily, or roughly 20% of vehicle traffic across the Fraser River as of 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.portmoody.ca/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=6697 |title=Pattullo Bridge Perspective |publisher=City of New Westminster |date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=August 27, 2016}} A replacement bridge began construction in 2021 and is scheduled to be completed in late 2025.

Design and layout

The Pattullo Bridge is {{convert|1227|m|ft|sp=us}} in total length, and consists of four lanes, with two in each direction. The bridge has a line of plastic pillars for its central median, installed by TransLink to raise the visibility of the centre-lane divider. However, the lack of a concrete median barrier makes the causeway highly prone to head-on collisions, especially at excessive speed or in bad weather. The narrow traffic lanes and lack of a reliable centre divider have led to lane closures from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for safety.

In response to the high number of crashes on the bridge, TransLink studied the idea of reducing the number of lanes on the bridge from four to three using a counterflow operation, similar to that used on the Lions' Gate Bridge, with the number of lanes varied depending on traffic flow and volume. However, traffic analysis showed that significant congestion would result in Surrey and New Westminster, and the idea was abandoned. TransLink also examined a number of options to install a centre-line barrier and, in concert, to ban truck traffic from the bridge because the barrier would further narrow the traffic lanes, but that too was proven impractical. A more controversial proposal is to install photo radar on the bridge to enforce the existing speed limit. Thus far, the provincial government has ruled out the idea of bringing back photo radar, which it eliminated province-wide in 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/photo-radar-proposed-for-pattullo-bridge-1.573266 |title=Photo radar proposed for Pattullo Bridge |publisher=CBC News |date=May 19, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2016}}

Oversized commercial vehicles are prohibited from using the bridge, as mandated by the British Columbia Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement agency.{{cite web |url=http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/cvse/ |title=CVSE About Us |publisher=Government of British Columbia |access-date=August 27, 2016}}

History

The first regular crossing of the Fraser River started in 1882, and was operated by a steam ferry named K de K, which transported residents and livestock from Brownsville to New Westminster.{{cite web |url=http://www.surrey.ca/city-services/3380.aspx |title=Brownsville Park and Sandbar |publisher=City of Surrey |date=January 12, 2004 |access-date=August 27, 2016}} During the late 1890s, the need for a new bridge became apparent after the existing ferry was deemed insufficient to handle future traffic demands. The first bridge, a combined steel two deck road and rail span, started construction in 1902, with completion in 1904. The bridge was built with two decks, the upper deck handling vehicular traffic and the lower deck functioning as a railway bridge.{{cite web |url=http://buzzer.translink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/pattulloprogramme.pdf |title=From the opening of the Pattullo Bridge, 1937 |website=buzzer.translink.ca |publisher=Burnaby Village Museum |date=January 28, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2016}}

Again, growing traffic demands prompted the construction of a second bridge in 1936. The bridge was designed by supervising engineer Major W.G. Swan, and construction was tendered to the Dominion Bridge Company and Northern Construction & J.W. Stewart Ltd. The Pattullo Bridge was opened to traffic on November 15, 1937, by Premier "Duff" Pattullo, with a total cost of $4 million. The bridge was originally tolled at 25¢ per crossing, but was then removed in 1952.{{cite web |url=http://www.surreyleader.com/community/180027971.html |title=Pattullo Bridge turns 75 |publisher=The Surrey Leader |date=November 20, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2016}} The old bridge, now known as the New Westminster Rail Bridge was converted to rail use only, and highway traffic was moved to the Pattullo Bridge.{{cite web |url=https://vancouversun.com/This+history+November+1937/7551530/story.html |title=This day in history: November 15, 1937 |publisher=The Vancouver Sun |date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2016}}

Around 3 a.m. on January 18, 2009, a fire started on the south end of the bridge in the structure under the bridge deck. The {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=on}}-long wooden trestle on the south side of the bridge connecting the steel and concrete structure to the earthen berm sustained damage, and had to be completely rebuilt.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pattullo-bridge-to-close-for-a-month-after-fire-1.784898 |title=Pattullo Bridge to close for a month after fire |date=January 19, 2009 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=August 27, 2016}} Initially, it was estimated that the bridge would be closed for 4–6 weeks. However, by reusing a temporary bridge structure used on the Canada Line project, the bridge was reopened on Monday, January 26.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pattullo-bridge-to-reopen-monday-1.864292 |title=Pattullo Bridge to reopen Monday |date=January 25, 2009 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=August 27, 2016}}

Replacement bridge

On July 31, 2008, TransLink opted to replace the bridge, rather than try to refurbish the aging structure.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-tolled-pattullo-bridge-gets-green-light-1.735161 |title=New tolled Pattullo Bridge gets green light |date=July 31, 2008 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=August 27, 2016}} In June 2014, the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council determined that the existing structure will be demolished and replaced with a new, 4-lane, tolled replacement bridge.{{cite web |url=http://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documents/about_translink/governance_and_board/mayors_vision/mayors_council_vision_mar_2015.pdf |title=2014 Mayors' Council Report on Regional Transportation |date=June 2014 |publisher=TransLink |access-date=August 27, 2016}} Construction was expected to take place between 2019 and 2023, with the $1.3 billion funding finalized in 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documents/plans_and_projects/roads_bridges/pattullo_bridge/Pattullo%20Bridge%20Community%20Connections%20Consultation%20Discussion%20Guide.pdf |title=Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project: Community Connections |date=June 13, 2016 |publisher=TransLink |access-date=August 27, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=McElroy|first1=Justin|title=B.C. government to build replacement for Pattullo Bridge|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pattullo-bridge-bc-announcement-1.4538939|access-date=February 16, 2018|work=CBC News|date=February 16, 2018}}

During 2016, rehabilitation work was completed on the bridge deck to keep the bridge operational until the replacement is built. From May 2 to August 26, the bridge was reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction, with full bridge closures on selected days. The bridge reopened one month ahead of schedule, on August 29.{{cite web |url=http://www.translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/Roads-Bridges-and-Goods-Movement-Projects/Pattullo-Bridge/Pattullo-Bridge-Rehabilitation.aspx#closure-schedule |title=Pattullo Bridge Rehabilitation |date=April 29, 2016 |publisher=TransLink |access-date=August 27, 2016}}

On January 3, 2020, the government of British Columbia contracted Fraser Crossing Partners–a joint partnership between Acciona Infrastructure Canada and Aecon Group–to design and construct the replacement bridge. The contract also includes the construction of new road connections at the bridgeheads in New Westminster and Surrey. The new bridge will include pedestrian access and allow for future widening from 4 lanes to 6 lanes.{{Cite web|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pattullo-bridge-replacement-acciona-aecon-contractor|title=BC government selects contractor for new $1.4-billion Pattullo Bridge {{!}} Urbanized|website=dailyhive.com|language=en|access-date=January 4, 2020}}

In February 2021, contractors began installing piles that will form the foundation of the bridge tower. However, this work was temporarily suspended to protect fish and habitat.{{cite web |url=https://www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/app/uploads/sites/637/2021/04/PBR-TIC-PCO-RPT-R0-Monthly-Status-Report-202102.pdf |access-date=July 6, 2022 |title=Monthly Status Report |website=Pattullo Bridge Replacement | date=April 2021 | author=Transportation Investment Corporation}} On April 1, 2021, construction began on the replacement bridge with an expected opening date in 2024.{{cite web |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pattullo-bridge-construction-progress-april-2021 |access-date=October 18, 2021 |title=New Pattullo Bridge construction underway, but opening pushed to 2024 |website=DailyHive | date=April 1, 2021 | first=Kenneth |last=Chan }} It is now scheduled for late 2025.{{cite news |last=Burns |first=Anna |date=May 25, 2024 |title=Pattullo Bridge replacement delayed again, now projected to open in 2025 |newspaper=Peace Arch News |url=https://www.peacearchnews.com/local-news/pattullo-bridge-replacement-delayed-again-now-projected-to-open-in-2025-7364978 |access-date=May 29, 2024 |quote=The Pattullo Bridge replacement will not open until fall 2025, nearly two years after it was projected to open. }}