Pattullo Bridge arch removed as demolition continues until 2027
The steel arch of the 1937 bridge was lowered onto a barge over the weekend, with the full demolition expected to take until the end of 2027.
NEW WESTMINSTER — Crews removed the steel arch of the aging Pattullo Bridge over the Thanksgiving long weekend, a major step in its demolition that is expected to last until the end of 2027.
Workers used specialized hydraulic systems called strand jacks to lower the orange arch onto barges on the Fraser River between Surrey and New Westminster.
The arch was gone from the original structure by Sunday afternoon but remained on a barge for transport to a project site for dismantling and recycling.
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"For the areas above water, the lowering of materials and everything, is very controlled to make sure we're not dropping anything," said Navjeet Tiwana, executive project director for the new bridge, in March when deconstruction began.
The main navigation channel in the Fraser River was closed for the weekend to complete the slow process, which took 48 to 60 hours.
The removal comes about eight months after the opening of its replacement, the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, also known as the Riverview Bridge, which opened all four lanes to traffic in February.
The new bridge was built to replace the 1937 span after safety concerns were highlighted about a decade ago.
Business owners near the bridge hope the improved traffic flow from the new crossing will mean more customers.
"Major intersection upgrades that have taken place on our side of the bridge are pretty much done now. And the disruptions aren't as bad as they have been," said Patrick Johnstone, mayor of New Westminster.
He advised residents to not rely on GPS when trying to get to the bridge amid ongoing closures and detours as the city realigns connecting roads.
Alex Jopson, president of the Sapperton Business Collective, said businesses in the New Westminster neighbourhood haven't been heavily affected, but concerns remain about potential disruptions, especially during the holidays.
"If you could snap your fingers and make it done tomorrow, that would be the ideal situation," he said.
Matthew Hill, head instructor at HIVE Surrey, a recreational climbing gym, said continuous delays and traffic disruptions from bridge construction have made it harder for people to visit.
"I do hope that it'll be easier for people to get to the location. We are tucked away a little bit in an industrial district," said Hill.
The Pattullo Bridge, named after former B.C. premier Duff Pattullo, served as the main crossing between Surrey and New Westminster for decades.
Earlier this year, a section of the bridge that connected to McBride Avenue in New Westminster was dismantled, creating a gap between the road and the bridge.
The construction of the replacement bridge faced many delays and budget increases. It was initially expected to open in late 2023, but the province later pushed the date to 2024 and then to 2025, citing inflationary pressures, supply chain issues and construction delays.
Some Metro Vancouver residents had wanted to see the old bridge repurposed, with ideas for a pedestrian-only bridge, but the province decided to demolish it.
Laura Grady, executive director of Arts New West, said the bridge has inspired poetry, visual art and storytelling.
"We're going to miss it. We're going to miss being able to capture it," she said.
With files from Vancouver Sun, CBC News and CityNews