Pattullo Bridge
Opened in 1937, the Pattullo Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the Lower Mainland. It serves primarily as a connection between Surrey, New Westminster and Burnaby and is a critical transportation link for the movement of people, goods and services. On average, about 73,000 vehicles per weekday travel over the bridge, and the bridge sidewalk serves a small volume of pedestrians and cyclists.
The aging bridge faces a number of challenges, including seismic and structural concerns.
Joint Pattullo Bridge Review
New Westminster, Surrey and TransLink are working together to review and evaluate potential alternatives to rehabilitate or replace the Pattullo Bridge. The review partners aim to determine a solution that meets the needs of the communities connected by the bridge and the region overall while ensuring the efficient movement of people, goods and services. The review aims to determine a suitable funded solution is identified that meets regional and local objectives no later than fall 2014.
Surrey, New Westminster and TransLink will be consulting with the local residents and businesses, local and regional stakeholders and bridge users on the review framework and bridge alternatives being considered. Consultation will begin in mid-2013 and will continue into early 2014.
For more information about the joint review, and to register for updates, visit the joint review website at www.pattullobridgereview.ca
Spring 2012 Consultation
In 2011, TransLink engaged independent consultation firm, Golder Associates Limited, to design and deliver a consultation program to engage New Westminster and Surrey residents and stakeholders on replacement options for the aging Pattullo Bridge. The first round of engagement was held in February 2012 and the second in June 2012. The results of these consultations can be found in our Phase 2 Consultation Report and June 2012 Consultation Report.
To maintain a broader understanding of public awareness and opinions at a regional level, TransLink engaged independent market research firm, Mustel Group, to conduct market research among residents in both the local area and the broader region in November 2011. This research was repeated in May 2012. The results of this market research can be found in the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Research (November 2011) and Pattullo Bridge Replacement Research – Wave 2 (May 2012) reports.
Findings
The consultation and polling reports show that:
- Residents and stakeholders in New Westminster, in particular, requested further information and analysis of the various options and a clear and transparent evaluation process, along with additional information on local traffic impacts and bridge costs and funding.
- There is substantial support in North Surrey and region-wide for the replacement of the bridge. The majority of New Westminster residents also recognized the need to identify a practical alternative for the bridge.
The findings of the public consultation and the market research reports highlight the underlying importance and challenges of balancing local and regional perspectives and interests in assessing and determining bridge replacement or rehabilitation alternatives.
To read previous consultation reports, or view other Pattullo Bridge documents, visit the Pattullo Bridge Document Library.