Watch Live: CityNews at Six Vancouver

Report finds Pattullo Bridge “vulnerable” during a quake or windstorm

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130)- When the big one hits or Metro Vancouver is blasted by a storm, a key connector between New West and Surrey could be a very dangerous place.

A new report for TransLink is calling the Pattullo Bridge potentially “vulnerable” during earthquakes or powerful winds.

New Westminster City Councillor Chuck Puchmayer has been briefed on the report and is blaming the Clark government.

“The province seems to be quite keen on fast-tracking the replacement of the Massey Tunnel and we were all aware the Pattullo Bridge was in poor condition. It seems the province has the ear of some major shippers that

want a deeper Fraser River and be able to bring larger freighters up the river. But they don’t seem to be as concerned that this very old bridge is running at greater capacity now since the Port Mann Bridge opened. There

doesn’t seem to be an appetite to address this problem,” he says.

Wind and seismic warning systems for the Pattullo are being considered as part of a feasibility study which Puchmayer argues could have been done before major repairs were completed on the bridge this summer.

“I would have liked to have seen a more in-depth report that actually took in to account some of the issues being identified right now,” he adds.

Construction of a four lane replacement was supposed to begin in 2019 but finding the money to pay for it remains an issue.

TransLink is holding both online consultations and open houses for your feedback about a possible replacement bridge.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today