$1.22B Pattullo Bridge Replacement Targets Late-2025 Opening in British Columbia
The major Fraser River crossing is nearing completion after several years of delays, fundamentally changing how commuters travel between Surrey and New Westminster. The long-awaited replacement of British Columbia’s historic Pattullo Bridge has entered its final phase, with officials now aiming for a late-2025 opening—almost two years behind the original schedule.
Project Overview
The new four-lane cable-stayed bridge will take the place of the 1937 truss structure connecting Surrey and New Westminster across the Fraser River, one of the region’s major transport corridors.
Project Management and Financing
The Transportation Investment Corp., a provincial agency, is overseeing the project. In 2020, the design-build-finance contract was granted to Fraser Crossing Partners, a joint venture involving Aecon Group Inc. and Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc.
At the time of financial close, the project was valued at approximately $1.05 billion. Current provincial estimates indicate the total cost has risen to about $1.22 billion due to inflation and currency adjustments.
Delays and Challenges
Originally, construction was expected to start in spring 2020 with completion by 2023. However, the pandemic and global supply-chain shortages—especially in steel and cable production—caused significant delays, extending delivery timelines by nearly two years.
“The pandemic and related supply-chain disruptions extended procurement timelines and pushed delivery nearly two years behind.”
Summary
The $1.22 billion Pattullo Bridge replacement aims to modernize a critical Fraser River link, with completion now projected for late 2025 following pandemic-related setbacks.