Three weekends of lane closures are coming up as part of the Pattullo Bridge replacement project.
“During the weekend of Jan. 7, lane closures will be implemented on Royal Avenue between McBride Boulevard and Dufferin Street so crews can excavate the roadway and install temporary steel road plates for vehicle traffic,” said a notice from the Pattullo Bridge replacement project team. “These lane closures will be required for another weekend in late January, and again in February, to complete this work.”
According to the notice, the lane closure in New Westminster will be in effect from 8 a.m. on Saturday until 6 p.m. on Sunday. During that time, the following traffic pattern changes will be implemented while this work is underway:
* Westbound vehicles on East Royal Avenue: The westbound through lane will be closed. All turns to McBride Boulevard will be maintained.
* Eastbound vehicles on Royal Avenue: One lane of eastbound through traffic will be maintained.
* Northbound vehicles on McBride Boulevard: Northbound left turns to Royal Avenue will not be permitted. Trucks from East Columbia Street will be detoured to Front Street for westbound travel. General traffic from East Columbia Street heading for Royal Avenue will continue onto Columbia Street and follow detour signage.
* Right-in, right-out access to Leopold Place and Bushy Street will generally be maintained; however, there will be some turning restrictions at Bushby Street. Access will be maintained at Leopold Place.
* The sidewalk on Royal Avenue will be maintained.
This weekend’s work will take place on Saturday, Jan. 7 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on and Sunday, Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some “non-noisy work” may take place after 6 p.m. on Saturday.
“Nearby residents may hear noise from heavy equipment, including an excavator and jackhammer, during standard hours on Saturday,” said the notice.
Traffic control personnel will be on site to direct traffic, pedestrians and cyclists, and all traffic pattern changes will be well signed, said the notice.
In December, the Pattullo Bridge replacement project team announced that crews would begin the next stage of work for the Royal Avenue overpass rehabilitation on Dec. 16. The work has resulted in the creation of a work zone in the middle of Royal Avenue between Dufferin Street and McBride Boulevard, a reduction to three lanes on Royal Avenue (two westbound and one eastbound) for four to five months, closure of the existing sidewalk on the Royal Avenue overpass and installation of a temporary pedestrian and cyclist bridge to maintain access.
In addition, some turning restrictions have been implemented as part of that work: left turns aren’t permitted from the southbound off-ramp onto Royal Avenue eastbound for approximately eight to 12 weeks and access to Bushby Street will be right-in, right-out.
Anyone with questions about this work can email [email protected] or call the 24/7 construction information phone line at 1-844-815-6149.
The new four-lane bridge will include modern, wider lanes, separated by a centre median barrier, as well as dedicated walking and cycling lanes on both sides of the bridge that are separated from traffic by a barrier. The new $1.377-billion crossing is expected to open in 2024.
