New Westminster proposing new four-lane, tolled bridge

NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS1130) – New Westminster says it has the solution to deal with increased traffic volumes in its city: a new, tolled four-lane Pattullo Bridge to replace the existing, aging structure.

Mayor Wayne Wright says traffic volume was decreasing on the bridge before the Port Mann Bridge was tolled last year.  Wright says there have been an additional 8,000 daily trips on the Pattullo and there has been a 75 per cent growth in truck traffic on Royal Avenue alone.

He says this new proposal is the only viable solution right now.

“As a free alternative, it’s significantly and negatively affecting the livability of New Westminster. Tolls on a new four-lane bridge are needed, not only to finance the new bridge, but also as a critical measure to lower demand for car travel over the bridge and to promote the use of alternative transportation modes.  The people who are coming here now should be using the Port Mann Bridge and the Port Mann Bridge probably would give them a faster route, would probably give them a safer route.”

He also thinks a direct link is needed between the South Fraser Perimeter road and Port Mann to make things more efficient.  Wright would also support a four-lane crossing between Coquitlam and Surrey.  “The fact is the city has the second lowest level of car ownership, and the second highest level of transit ridership of the entire region, after downtown Vancouver.”

Building the new Pattullo would cost $850 million, refurbishing the old crossing would cost $250 million and building a new six-lane bridge would cost $1.5 billion.

Surrey City Councillor Tom Gill was surprised by the proposal but adds his city still wants a new six-lane crossing.  “We feel that if there is a tolling that is required that all the existing bridges in the Lower Mainland and the Greater Vancouver area should be tolled and in fact, we shouldn’t be singled out.”

The Surrey Board of Trade says New Westminster needs to stop thinking of only itself when it comes to a replacement plan for the aging Patullo Bridge.

Anita Huberman with the SBOT says six lanes is what will be beneficial to the entire region especially to keep up with expected growth.

“When you’re talking about the foundations of a healthy economy it’s about having the appropriate infrastructure and moving your people and goods efficiently,” she says. “We’re not in an economy where we can live in silos anymore. Business is borderless.”

Huberman says New Westminster is only thinking about the traffic it doesn’t want instead of the future of the region.

Louise Yako with the BC Trucking Association says there needs to be a free alternative to cross the Fraser River.  “Having three structures that cross the Fraser River, that are all tolled, would not be in keeping with our policy.”  She also adds four lanes is not enough for such a busy bridge.

A final decision on what to do with the Pattullo Bridge is expected this spring.