Pattullo Bridge Replacement on Schedule for December 2025 Opening
The long-awaited Pattullo Bridge replacement—an $865 million cable-stayed structure featuring a 168-metre central tower—remains firmly on track for completion by December 2025. The new crossing will usher in a modern era of safety and connectivity for commuters between Surrey and New Westminster, replacing the nearly 90-year-old bridge that has served the region since 1937.
Construction Progress and Project Timeline
Fraser Crossing Partners, a joint venture between Aecon Group and Acciona Infrastructure Canada, is leading the design-build-finance contract awarded in 2020. The project was originally expected to finish by 2023, but delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply issues, and labour shortages extended the timeline by almost two years. With major structural elements now complete and final cable work underway, officials say the bridge will be ready for traffic by Christmas 2025, connecting King George Boulevard in Surrey to McBride Boulevard in New Westminster.
Modern Features Designed for Safety and Growth
The new Pattullo Bridge brings significant improvements over the original structure. It will include four wider travel lanes with the capacity to expand to six lanes in the future to support growing volumes of commuters and commercial vehicles. Safety receives a major upgrade with the addition of a centre median barrier—something the aging bridge lacked, making it prone to collision-related shutdowns.
Active transportation users will also benefit from physically separated pedestrian and cycling paths on both sides of the span, offering safer and more scenic links across the Fraser River. Engineers have added a snow and ice-removal system tailored to B.C.’s winter conditions, and the single-tower cable-stayed design reduces environmental impacts to the river while providing better navigation clearance.
Community Impact and Indigenous Recognition
The replacement project was initiated due to longstanding safety concerns with the old 1937 bridge, which lacked proper lane separation and was vulnerable to closures after major incidents. Beyond transportation upgrades, the new crossing includes improved access to regional greenways, future shoreline restoration, and cultural recognition developed in collaboration with the Musqueam and Kwantlen First Nations. Officials have indicated that the new bridge may receive a new name that reflects the cultural and ecological importance of the Fraser River to Indigenous communities.
Once the replacement officially opens, demolition of the existing Pattullo Bridge will begin—closing a major chapter in the region’s transportation history.
A Bridge Built for the Next Century
As one of British Columbia’s largest infrastructure projects nears completion, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can expect a safer and more reliable connection between both sides of the Fraser River. With advanced engineering, modern safety features, and significant community involvement, the new Pattullo Bridge represents innovation, resilience, and a long-term investment in regional mobility. It is designed to serve not only today’s travellers but generations to come.
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