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http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/surrey/2006/syh2006_208.jpg

Don't fix bridge: Report

Building new crossing would be less costly

Frank Luba, The Province

Published: Wednesday, July 30, 2008

A consultant's report to go to TransLink's board meeting tomorrow advises against fixing the 70-year-old Pattullo Bridge, where 21 people have died in traffic accidents since 1990.

The meeting is closed to the public.

"The current condition of the bridge requires a significant capital-cost investment to rehabilitate the bridge to obtain three standard-travel lanes. These rehabilitation costs would be similar to the incremental cost of providing three additional lanes on the new bridge structure," says an executive summary of the Delcan report, made available yesterday.

The four-lane Pattullo across the Fraser River connects New Westminster to Surrey. Both municipalities have called for the bridge to be updated or replaced, particularly because it will be the free option to the future tolled Port Mann Bridge that is part of the province's Gateway Program.

Delcan said other downsides to fixing the four-lane Pattullo are that it would only last another 50 years and it would be more expensive to maintain than a new bridge.

There would also be complications with the approaches and it could take longer to fix than building a new and wider bridge.

Delcan recommends a new bridge 50 metres downstream from the existing bridge.

Although it would be more expensive than an option 50 metres upstream of the existing bridge, it would have limited impact on residential and industrial properties and moderate impact on parks.

There's no plan to replace the bridge in TransLink's 2009 10-year transportation and financial Plan to be discussed at the in-camera meeting tomorrow.

© The Vancouver Province 2008

Source: Vancouver Sun

Downstream meaning between the existing bridge and the SkyBridge (SkyTrain).

The Patullo definitely needs to be replaced to come up to standards with bridges today. The Delta region still needs to maintain the current highway capacity until new links are built or current links are upgraded. With the building of a new Patullo Bridge downstream, would that significantly effect the allignment of 1A?

I wouldn't think so.

I haven't seen any newer information on it today so far. I think they are going to go with building a whole new bridge anyway.

Well I hear that this has been talked about for years, is it going to be pushed into the next 10 year plan and perhaps designed so that after the 2010 games they can begin construction on a replacement or is it still in the same square one?

I think this presents the opportunity of completely upgrading the McBride/Columbia/Patullo interchange. Property acquisition will be required...

The Sun and Province both state that Translink is evaluating whether the new Patullo will include a new rail crossing.
Good news!
There has been generally good cooperation between the region, Province and Feds on transportation projects in the region, so my guess is that a funding formula could be worked out (which could lessen Translinks share of the bridge?).

Here's the cover page of the Delcan Report posted by Stingray2004 (note what looks like a lift rail span). Check out the report - it shows potential road connections on each side of the river:

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/7897/newpicturerm6.png

^^

Thought I would just toss in the link having just looked at it :)

http://www.translink.bc.ca/files/pdf/Pattullo_Executive_Summary_REV2.pdf

I quickly drew up a quick concept...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2723778618_77273f5db3.jpg

It'd be nice to have direct access from Front St. to the new bridge but that would be massive and expensive.

That looks cool =)

Is Front Street going to become apart of North Fraser Perimeter Road? There was talk of that in the executive summary about connections to NFPR.

^^

I heard that in the future a tunnel bypass will be needed to help remove the trucks from front street to allow more shops to open up along the street, and remove the pollution. Speaking of which, does anyone know where exactly this tunnel would enter/exit under downtown New West? Supposively it would cost around $2 billion from what I saw on some TV program I can't remember.

^^

I heard that in the future a tunnel bypass will be needed to help remove the trucks from front street to allow more shops to open up along the street, and remove the pollution. Speaking of which, does anyone know where exactly this tunnel would enter/exit under downtown New West? Supposively it would cost around $2 billion from what I saw on some TV program I can't remember.

They had a report on Global before...