If you don’t have to travel through New Westminster during rush hour or take the Pattullo Bridge, you probably shouldn’t.
While it’s just common sense to avoid that part of the city given traffic chaos expected to ensue from the upcoming rehab work for the Pattullo Bridge, it’s also what city officials are telling the region.
“Ultimately, we’re hoping to get some of the significant amount of traffic that travels through New West to find some alternative routes though this difficult period,” Mayor Jonathan Cote told the Record this week.
In order to carry out rehabilitation work on the deck of the Pattullo Bridge, several closures are planned for the span between late April and September. The traffic changes start April 29.
The biggest change will start May 2 when the bridge will drop to one lane in each direction.
While Cote is hoping drivers will find other routes and avoid New West, he said the city is prepared to handle the increased congestion.
He said the city’s engineering department is working with TransLink to prevent bridge lineups from spilling into the local neighbourhoods.
The mayor also said the city will monitor the areas to see if any additional enforcement or traffic pattern changes need to be done to limit the lineups.
“There’s no doubt there’s going to be increased police enforcement around the Pattullo Bridge,” Cote said, adding the city has an idea how much traffic will increase, but won’t fully know until the rehab work begins.
The work on the Pattullo is a bit of a double whammy for New West residents already dealing with the closure of Front Street during the last few months for the deconstruction of the western part of the parkade and creation of a mews.
Cote said the timing of the two projects was “unfortunate,” but noted the Front Street project is on time and the road will reopen in July.
As for the Pattullo project, TransLink has warned drivers they should plan an extra 20 to 40 minutes of travel time in the morning peak period and 10 to 30 minutes in the afternoon peak period.
· The bridge will close to all traffic on the evening of April 29 at 8 p.m. to May 2 at 5 a.m. The bridge will also close on the evening of Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. to Oct. 3 at 5 a.m.
· From May 2 to Sept. 30, the bridge will remain open with one lane in each direction.
· Truck access will be maintained.
· The bridge will be closed to all traffic two nights a week and one weekend a month.
· Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge, even during evening and weekend closures.
