Work to replace British Columbia’s long-delayed Pattullo Bridge is nearing its final stage, with provincial officials now aiming for a late 2025 opening, nearly two years ahead of the original schedule.
The new four-lane cable-stayed span will replace the 1937 truss crossing linking Surrey and New Westminster across the Fraser River, one of the region’s busiest commuter corridors.
The bridge is being delivered by Transportation Investment Corp. of the province, which in 2020 awarded the design, construction and financing contract to Fraser Crossing Partners, a joint venture of Aecon Group Inc. and Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc.
At financial close, the project was valued at about $1.05 billion; Provincial updates now put the total cost at about $1.22 billion, adjusted for inflation and currency.
When ENR last reported on the project in early 2020, work was due to begin that spring with completion expected in 2023. The pandemic and related supply chain disruptions, particularly in steel and cable production, extended procurement timelines and pushed delivery nearly two years behind schedule.
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The then transport minister, Rob Fleming, said in a 2021 government statement that the bridge would “provide a safer and more efficient connection between communities while supporting good jobs and economic growth”.
Since then, the project’s defining feature, a 548-foot-tall center tower, has been completed, along with most of the roof beam segments and approach lights.
The final stay cables, manufactured in the UK, are scheduled for installation this autumn, followed by paving, barrier placement and finishing work which will continue until mid-2026. TI Corp says the bridge remains on budget and “on track for completion in late 2025”.
The design of the structure eliminates four of the six river piers that supported the original crossing, reducing navigational hazards and environmental impact. The new bridge will open without a toll, with wider lanes, a concrete median barrier and separate pedestrian and bicycle lanes on each side.
Designed for future expansion to six lanes, the bridge incorporates a specialized gantry system that allows inspection of the pond cables without major traffic closures, a first for the province, according to TI Corp.
Built under the British Columbia Community Benefit Agreement, the project emphasizes local and Indigenous employment and learning opportunities. A March 2025 inspection by BC’s Office of Environmental Assessment confirmed compliance with sediment, dust and spill control requirements.
Construction crews continue to detour traffic on connecting routes in Surrey and New Westminster while maintaining flow on the existing span, which will be demolished once the new bridge opens. Demolition is expected to continue in 2026, according to current Transport Minister George Heyman.
