Let’s go back and check out the shiny new Pattullo Bridge as depicted in this postcard in 1938. Opened the year before to alleviate traffic problems at the time, it’s now one of the oldest bridges in the Lower Mainland. Originally built to last 50 years, the crossing when it opened had a 25 cent toll and cost $4 million to build.
The grand opening of the new Pattullo Bridge on Nov. 15, 1937. Vancouver Archives photo
Named after former B.C. Premier Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, it's part of the Major Road Network, serving primarily as a connection between Surrey, New Westminster and Burnaby, and is a critical transportation link for the movement of people, goods, and services.
Another shot of the grand opening celebration of the new Pattullo Bridge. New Westminster Library photo.
TransLink says that while the Pattullo Bridge is safe for drivers who are using it today, the aging bridge faces a number of challenges, including seismic and structural concerns.
To address these challenges, TransLink is moving forward with plans to replace the 81-year-old bridge. In 2018, the province took over the project and announced it will fund and build the replacement bridge. The estimated cost $1.377 billion. During the announcement earlier this year, Claire Trevena, minister of transportation and infrastructure, said there are serious safety concerns about the bridge which has about 70,000 crossings each day.
Another postcard from the late 1930s showing the new Pattullo Bridge as well as downtown New Westminster. Delta Archives Photo
Upon completion in 2023, the province will own and operate the new crossing.
The province announced the move not long after suspending the replacement of the almost 60-year-old George Massey Tunnel, which has about 90,000 vehicle trips daily.
A view of the Pattullo in 1952. Tolls were removed for the bridge a year later. BC Archives photo
The City of Delta is taking issue with the Pattullo replacement plan because the project will see the new bridge have the same number of lanes, something Delta officials warned is only going to cause more problems for other crossings.
“There’s 77,000 vehicle crossings daily and it’s actually experiencing the highest rate of growth in truck volume of all the major river crossings in the Lower Mainland. Due to the traffic congestion at the Pattullo Bridge, commuters and commercial vehicles are detouring to alternate routes and currently the Alex Fraser (Bridge) is at capacity, there’s over 100,000 vehicles per day using that crossing,” said engineering director Steven Lan last year.
Construction of the Pattullo which consists of four lanes, with two in each direction. New Westminster Library photo
“And now with uncertainty with the George Massey Tunnel crossing, with that replacement, there is no relief in sight. So where else will the traffic go? Two crossings that are at and beyond capacity currently,” he added.
The new Pattullo crossing will have the structural foundations to expand to six lanes in the future.
Construction of the Pattullo Bridge replacement is scheduled to commence next year. Delta Optimist photo
“It does not make any sense for them to wait to go to six lanes,” said Lan. “Would any of us want to go through another year or two of them converting basically a brand new four-lane bridge after they realize there is a shortfall of capacity, then spend another year or two widening that out?”
Meanwhile, the province is expected to release the findings of an independent technical review of the tunnel crossing and potential options. The province also committed to consultations with regional mayors and the timeline for that process hasn’t been made clear.
