PHOTOS: Pattullo Bridge’s familiar orange arch taken down for recycling
Published 3:30 pm Sunday, October 11, 2026
The steel arch of Pattullo Bridge was removed over the long weekend, Oct. 9-11.
Deconstruction work continues on the old Surrey-New Westminster crossing, closed to traffic last February when the new Stal̕əw̓asəm (“Riverview”) Bridge opened high above Fraser River.
Strand jacks (hydraulic linear winch systems) were used to lower the steel arch onto barges on the river for transportation to another site for dismantling and recycling, say Pattullo Bridge replacement project managers.
Arch removal work happened slowly over 48 to 60 hours, according to the website pattullobridgereplacement.ca.
The lowering of the arch was visible from locations along the Fraser River including Brownsville Bar Park in Surrey and Westminster Pier Park and Albert Crescent Park in New Westminster.”
Residents were told to expect additional noise, and torches cutting the arch were visible Saturday morning “as part of a carefully managed process.”
Closure of the river’s main navigation channel was required from Friday night until Sunday night (Oct. 9-11). The domestic navigation channel was to remain open for marine traffic with suitable height clearance, the project website says.