$1.22B Pattullo Bridge Replacement Targets Late-2025 Opening in British Columbia
The long-awaited replacement of British Columbia’s Pattullo Bridge over the Fraser River is nearing completion after multiple delays, promising to reshape the commute between Surrey and New Westminster. Provincial officials are now aiming to open the new bridge by late 2025, almost two years later than initially planned.
The new structure will be a four-lane cable-stayed bridge, taking the place of the original 1937 truss bridge that serves one of the region’s busiest commuter routes.
Project Delivery and Costs
- The project is managed by the province’s Transportation Investment Corporation.
- In 2020, the design-build-finance contract was awarded to Fraser Crossing Partners, a joint venture between Aecon Group Inc. and Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc.
- The initial project value at financial close was approximately $1.05 billion.
- Updated provincial figures now estimate the total cost at around $1.22 billion due to inflation and currency adjustments.
Construction Timeline and Challenges
Originally scheduled to start in spring 2020 with completion by 2023, the project faced setbacks caused by the pandemic and supply-chain disruptions, especially with steel and cable production. These issues extended procurement timelines and delayed delivery by nearly two years.
When ENR last reported on the project in early 2020, work was set to begin that spring with completion expected by 2023.
Despite the delays, the replacement bridge is now approaching its final phase, marking a significant infrastructure advancement for the area.
Summary
The Pattullo Bridge replacement reflects a major investment to improve a critical transportation link in British Columbia, overcoming pandemic-related challenges to approach a late-2025 opening.
Author’s summary: The $1.22 billion Pattullo Bridge replacement in British Columbia is set to open by late 2025, modernizing a vital commuter route after pandemic-related delays.