Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project
Enhancing safety, resiliency, and sustainability between New Westminster and Surrey, British Columbia.
Fraser Crossing Constructors General Partnership (FCCGP)
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Greater Vancouver, British Columbia
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2019 - 2025
The tallest bridge tower in British Columbia
Executed using a design-build-finance model
Reduces environmental impact with fewer in-river piers
Featured in Canada's Top 100 Infrastructure Projects
Challenges
- The existing bridge, designed in the 1930s, has narrow lanes, no shoulders, and no centre median barrier.
- The existing bridge does not meet current seismic design requirements.
- Complex soil conditions on the south side of the river required innovative solutions, including pre-loading soils, using lightweight fill materials, and ground densification.
- Keeping traffic moving during project construction required careful phasing of traffic management, plus coordination with adjacent rail traffic.
- Developing engineering solutions that avoid existing structures, maintains separation requirements, and protects the environment in a congested urban area.
Solutions
- Engineered the new bridge to withstand seismic events, adhering to modern structural standards to ensure safety.
- Used self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) to replace the Royal Avenue overpass, minimizing road closures.
- Led the environmental permitting process for the new bridge, ensuring compliance with regulations.
- The bridge’s design allows for the potential future expansion to six lanes, providing flexibility for long-term growth in the region.
Highlights
- The bridge features multiple viewing platforms offering scenic views of the historic Fraser River, the longest river in British Columbia.
- Providing over 5km of active transportation multi-use path network which includes separated pedestrian and cycling lanes on both sides of the main bridge span.
- Extensive efforts were made to protect culturally important areas throughout the project.
"Hatch has excelled in navigating the complexities of this project from the very beginning. Located in a highly urbanized area, the project required meticulous traffic management while keeping the existing bridge operational during construction. The location, adjacent to a sensitive river ecosystem that supports numerous species and experiences high water flows, required sophisticated hydraulic design for the new bridge. Hatch’s expertise and leadership have been crucial in overcoming these challenges and driving the project to its current successful stage."
Project Numbers
- 4 lanes make up this toll-free bridge (designed to allow for potential future expansion to six lanes)
- 1,233 metres long
- 332-metre clear span
- 15,000 metric tonnes of steel
- 16 new piers supporting the main bridge and Highway 17 exit ramp, including 2 in-water piers with one supporting the stay cable tower
- 3 Acts adhered to regarding the environmental assessment
- 6 months of road closures were avoided thanks to our innovative approach using SPMTs