Pattullo Bridge will be off limits to motorists in the event of earthquakes or extreme wind.
New Westminster city council has granted TransLink an exemption from the city’s construction noise bylaw so it can do nighttime work related to the installation of equipment for the bridge’s seismic early warning and wind-monitoring system. The work is being done between Dec. 4 and 23 and Jan. 1 and March 28.
“TransLink plans to equip the Pattullo Bridge with early seismic warning and wind-monitoring sensors that will trigger an automatic bridge closure in the case of an earthquake or extreme wind event,” said a staff report to council. “The bridge, which opened in 1937, was not designed to meet modern wind and seismic standards.”
While plans are afoot to replace the Pattullo Bridge, TransLink still needs to ensure the structure is safe while it’s in use. In order to ensure people aren’t disturbed over the holidays, work on the project isn’t taking place been Dec. 24 and 31.
