Expect more traffic at the Alex Fraser Bridge and the George Massey Tunnel this weekend.
That's because the aging Pattullo Bridge is scheduled for a 39-hour closure.
TransLink issued an advisory stating essential pothole repairs on the bridge will result in a closure to all vehicles from Friday, Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. until Sunday, Oct. 18 at noon. Emergency vehicles will still have access and the sidewalk will remain open to cyclists and pedestrians.
News of the upcoming bridge work came as Delta recently got what was considered very good news regarding even more major work planned for the Pattullo that could have resulted in a large amount of traffic diverted to Delta for an extended period.
TransLink had been planning a $100 million, 18-month seismic improvement project to commence next year. It would have resulted in only one lane in each direction open during the day and all lanes closed at night and weekends. The bridge would have been closed to heavy trucks at all times as well as pedestrians and cyclists.
About 75,000 vehicles use the bridge daily.
Concerned about the impact on regional traffic, Delta council and staff representatives met with provincial Transportation
Minister Todd Stone at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. The municipality also wrote a letter outlining its concerns.
"The impacts to Delta will be felt throughout the day as traffic diverts to the only two free alternatives - the George Massey Tunnel and the Alex Fraser Bridge - both of which are already beyond capacity," a letter to the minister states.
The letter notes traffic congestion would take longer to dissipate after the morning and evening rush hours.
Delta had been seeking a reduction or elimination of the toll on the Port Mann Bridge to encourage motorists to use that crossing during the construction period, but the minister indicated that option is not being considered. However, he indicated his ministry is undertaking traffic modelling that will be used to develop alternative strategies.
Delta engineering director Stephen Lan told council last week the situation has changed with TransLink announcing the Pattullo Bridge project would be significantly scaled back.
Expected to cost only $25 million and take five months to complete, the new deck repair project will keep two lanes on the four-lane bridge open at all times. Trucks will also be able to use the bridge.
Lan said his department would be paying close attention to what's happening at the Pattullo and will continue to meet with ministry staff.
