British Columbia’s new US$865 million Pattullo Bridge replacement project near Vancouver is on track for completion by the end of 2025.
The cable-stayed bridge, featuring a 168m-tall central tower, will replace the 88-year-old structure that has connected the cities of Surrey and New Westminster since 1937.
Fraser Crossing Partners, a joint venture between Aecon Group and Acciona Infrastructure Canada, was awarded the design-build-finance contract in 2020 with an initial value of US$743 million and expected completion by 2023. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and health restrictions caused nearly two years of delays and increased costs.
The Transportation Investment Corporation confirms the project remains on budget following scope and schedule revisions, with all major components erected and final cable installations expected this fall.
The new bridge will include four lanes – that are wider than on the old bridge – with capacity for expansion to six lanes as well as enhanced safety features and lanes for pedestrians and cyclists that are physically separated from traffic lanes. There will also be a median barrier separating the opposing traffic lanes, unlike on the old bridge which will be demolished when the new structure is open to traffic.
Meanwhile, Caroline Wawzonek, finance minister of the Northwest Territories, north of British Columbia, said that critical infrastructure projects in Canada’s North are finally gaining traction. The Mackenzie Valley Highway is an all-season 400km road that connects southern Canada to the Arctic Ocean. It replaces the seasonal ice road system – available for short winer periods when the lake ice is think enough to support heavy vehicles. The Mackenzie Valley Highway project will require federal investment of about US$2.5 billion.
The Arctic Economic and Security Corridor is a project that involves developing a mineral-rich region known as the Slave Geological Province and building related infrastructure such as an all-season road, requiring more than US$1.41 billion in federal funding. The Taltson Hydro Expansion is a US$2.5 billion energy initiative that involves the construction of 320km of transmission lines to connect 11 communities and industry via a unified grid.
