TransLink continues to motor along with plans to build a replacement Pattullo Bridge by the end of 2022.
Jeff Busby, TransLink’s director of engineering services, said TransLink consulted with citizens in June and July about options for connecting the future bridge to local road networks on either side of the river. In New Westminster, two connections have been proposed, with Option A being similar to today’s alignment and Option B being more aligned with McBride Boulevard.
“I would say the results were mixed with both options, with slightly more favourable agreement for Option A and slightly greater disagreement towards Option B,” he told city council Aug. 29. “We are doing a more detailed technical analysis of these two options and would like council’s feedback.”
TransLink plans to return to city council in September and share its preferred option and get the city’s feedback. In October, TransLink will consult with the public about the preferred option, as well as the prosed pedestrian and cycling connections, with the hope of finalizing the concept in December.
Coun. Patrick Johnstone said the design must reflect the fact that the bridge connects to an urban area where people live, attend school and play at a nearby park. He said the current bridge has a less than optimal design and its replacement needs to alert drivers to the fact they are entering an urban area.
“People still go 70 or 80 kilometres an hour on that bridge when traffic is flowing,” he said. “They carry that speed into our residential areas and surface streets. That makes the area it goes through feel less safe, feel less comfortable. It is difficult for people who live in adjacent neighbourhoods.”
Bushby assured council that the design of the bridge to promote safety it a top consideration at TransLink.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said it’s great to hear people from Surrey and New West thinks of the bridge’s potential alignment, but he’s most interested in what people who living next to the bridge think, as they’re the ones whose lives and property values are most impacted.
While this summer’s consultation focused on connections to the bridge, Bushby said TransLink has also heard from local residents who are interested in tolling, want the bridge to accommodate more pedestrian and cyclist connections or have concerns about traffic congestion and impacts on communities closest to the bridgehead. He said TransLink’s goal is to have the project fully defined by the end of this year so it can devote most of 2017 to the procurement process to get ready for the replacement.
