Pattullo Bridge arches to be removed over Thanksgiving long weekend
Crews are beginning the demolition of the old Pattullo Bridge in New Westminster following the opening of the new Riverview Bridge. The project has faced multiple delays and continues to cause traffic disruptions for local residents and businesses.
Why it matters
Illustrates the logistical and economic challenges of large-scale public infrastructure projects and their impact on local communities.
"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.
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