TransLink will be picking up the tab for mitigation measures needed to deal with the closure of the Pattullo Bridge.
Planning is underway for a $100-million repair to the Pattullo Bridge beginning next year.
The 18-month project would result in one-lane traffic in each direction on weekdays, closures at night and on weekends, sidewalk closures and prohibition of heavy trucks with more than three axles.
“We are working with TransLink now on traffic management plans,” said Jim Lowrie, the city’s director of engineering. “We are at a preliminary stage. They have done some preliminary modelling and we need to drill down a little deeper on how that affects our city network so that we can mitigate to the extent possible, with the removal of two lanes and evening closures and weekend closures. We have some time to work through those issues.”
Council recently received a staff report about the Pattullo Bridge rehabilitation work and proposed mitigation measures, such as additional park and ride opportunities, additional transit service, TravelSmart outreach, on-ramp controls to the Pattullo Bridge, traffic signal optimization on municipal streets, traffic and intersection controls and information signage plans. The city states that all costs for the mitigation of construction impacts will be funded by TransLink as part of the rehabilitation project.
Coun. Patrick Johnstone is concerned that pedestrians and cyclists won’t be able to use the bridge during the project, which will eliminate one way for them to cross from New Westminster to Surrey.
“The SkyTrain is closed in the evening,” he noted. “It’s going to be a real challenge for some people.”
New Westminster city council supports a four-lane tolled replacement for the aging Pattullo Bridge. The plan supported by the mayors’ council on regional transportation would allow the bridge to be expanded to six lanes in the future, if needed.
Lowrie said the city will be monitoring the impacts of eliminating trucks on the Pattullo Bridge when the project is underway.
