Press Releases
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Posted On:
December 4, 2013

City of New Westminster corrects misinformation on Pattullo consultation process

New Westminster, BC – The City of New Westminster has sent correspondence to TransLink and the City of Surrey expressing surprise at the charge that New Westminster has halted consultation on the Pattullo Bridge review process. The suggestion was made in media stories covered by various Lower Mainland media outlets on December 3 and 4.

“The City of New Westminster continues to be an active participant in the collaborative Pattullo Bridge review process that is scheduled to move to the next stage of public consultation in early 2014,” said Mayor Wayne Wright. “Our position has been consistent, and that is that a thorough review of all six remaining options must be undertaken before a final decision is made on this important project.”

TransLink, the City of Surrey and the City of New Westminster began a strategic review of all options for replacement or rehabilitation of the aging Pattullo Bridge at the start of 2013. In late spring 2013, Phase 1 of the public engagement process began which included a review and shortlisting of options from 25 to 6 that require further study. The six options include: a rehabilitated 3-lane bridge; a rehabilitated 4-lane bridge; a new 4-lane bridge; a new 5-lane bridge; a new 6-lane bridge; and a new 4-lane Surrey-Coquitlam crossing with a rehabilitated 3-lane Pattullo. These options are scheduled to be presented to the public during Phase 2 of the public engagement process which is scheduled for early 2014.

“New Westminster is experiencing severe traffic impact with over 400,000 vehicle movements through our city each day and things have gotten worse with the opening of the new tolled Port Mann Bridge. That’s not good for the environment and it’s counterproductive to the regional movement of goods, not to mention the negative impact on livability in New Westminster,” said Wright. “It should come as no surprise that our community is concerned about the consequences of adding even more traffic to our roads.”

The City of New Westminster has communicated to TransLink and the City of Surrey, that currently, there is insufficient information on the options to enable meaningful public engagement to occur and has asked that further detail be provided in preparation for the second stage of public consultation.

“The Pattullo Bridge replacement/rehabilitation project is a significant expenditure of public dollars,” said Wright. “It is critical that we get it right.”

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Contact:             Blair Fryer

                           Communications and Economic Development Manager
                           604-527-4688 or