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Business owners near the Pattullo Bridge hope improved traffic flow will mean more customers, as crews began removing the bridge’s steel arches Friday — one more step toward completing the long-awaited replacement project.
“Major intersection upgrades that have taken place on our side of the bridge are pretty much done now. And the disruptions aren’t as bad as they have been,” said Patrick Johnstone, mayor of New Westminster.
The new four-lane bridge was initially expected to open in late 2023, but about a year into construction, the province pushed the date back to 2024.
In 2024, officials announced another delay to 2025, citing inflationary pressures, supply chain issues and construction of the bridge tower taking longer than expected.
The new stal̕əw̓asəm, or Riverview Bridge, opened all four lanes to traffic in February 2026.
With traffic now using the new crossing, crews are removing the Pattullo Bridge’s steel arches, lowering them onto barges for dismantling and recycling. The full demolition is expected to take until the end of 2027.
Confusion remains
The New Westminster mayor said there’s been confusion among residents as the city realigns the “spaghetti of lanes” connecting to the new bridge amid ongoing closures and detours, but the city is doing its best to keep them informed.
“Don’t rely on your GPS when you’re trying to get to the Pattullo [Bridge],” said Johnstone.
Alex Jopson, president of the Sapperton Business Collective, said businesses in the New Westminster neighbourhood haven’t been heavily affected, but concerns remain about potential disruptions, especially during the holidays.
“If you could snap your fingers and make it done tomorrow, that would be the ideal situation,” he said.
Matthew Hill, head instructor at HIVE Surrey, a recreational climbing gym, said continuous delays and traffic disruptions from bridge construction have made it harder for people to “come all this distance to get their climb on.”
He believes that, with the project entering its final demolition phases, there will be fewer last-minute changes and disruptions to traffic flow.
“I do hope that it’ll be easier for people to get to the location. We are tucked away a little bit in an industrial district,” said Hill.
But for some, the Pattullo Bridge was more than just a way to get over the Fraser River.
Laura Grady, executive director of Arts New West, said the bridge has inspired poetry, visual art and storytelling, all while connecting communities.
“We’re going to miss it. We’re going to miss being able to capture it,” she said.