stal̕əw̓asəm (Riverview) Bridge (Pattullo Bridge Replacement) | U/C

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Dwils01

Is the speed limit for the new bridge going to be the same as the old one or is it just because it's still a construction zone?

Also, there's still the same chokepoints on the bridge approaches. McBride is still only one lane to the bridge, 2 lanes merging down to 1.King George and Scott Road both lose one lane. Essentially 4 lanes merging down to 2.

At least the trucks won't take up both lanes as before. The bridge should flow fine but I still see there being the usual traffic back ups on the bridge approaches in the morning and afternoon commutes.

the only improvement is the bridge itself, nothing will change for commuters, the approaches have gotten much worse on the Surrey side from my experience, I was using it to commute from Surrey but the recent changes made me switch back to the Port Mann, I might use it on weekends, but what used to be at worst 10-15 minutes of being backed up turned into 40-45 minute backups with the changes.

[Lexus]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

the only improvement is the bridge itself, nothing will change for commuters, the approaches have gotten much worse on the Surrey side from my experience, I was using it to commute from Surrey but the recent changes made me switch back to the Port Mann, I might use it on weekends, but what used to be at worst 10-15 minutes of being backed up turned into 40-45 minute backups with the changes.

Semi trucks now can stay in one lane, and overall increase in width of lanes plus the shoulder will naturally make drivers go faster.

[Vantage]

The speed limit should be 60 km/h imo. Also I know it's been beaten to death, but this really should've opened with three lanes each direction, or at the very least three southbound. Absolutely mind boggling. And don't you dare mention that on reddit or you will be downvoted by the hordes that don't understand what an add/drop lane is and parrot the induced demand boogeyman at you.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Lexus

Semi trucks now can stay in one lane, and overall increase in width of lanes plus the shoulder will naturally make drivers go faster.

Yeah this is easily the biggest difference and will speed things up.

[Dave2]

Originally Posted by Vantage

The speed limit should be 60 km/h imo..

Indeed, looks like traffic is flowing along at 64 km/h (40 M.P.H).



We should have learned this lesson in the 70s, reducing speed limits to below the speed of traffic just leads to people ignoring them.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Dave2

Indeed, looks like traffic is flowing along at 64 km/h (40 M.P.H).



We should have learned this lesson in the 70s, reducing speed limits to below the speed of traffic just leads to people ignoring them.

I drove this twice this afternoon. Everyone was going between 70-80

[flipper316]

What's up with the speed bumps on the deck.

[madog222]

It's an expansion joint. From the videos posted there's definitely a significant bump to them.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by madog222

It's an expansion joint. From the videos posted there's definitely a significant bump to them.

It's weird during the December opening the expansion joint bump doesn't seem as large.

• Video Link

[Vantage]

Originally Posted by madog222

It's an expansion joint. From the videos posted there's definitely a significant bump to them.

There's a significant bump because they haven't paved the final layer of asphalt yet, leaving a large bump at every expansion joint. Also visible at the pedestrian crossing of the on-ramp from Royal, temporary letdowns from the sidewalk as the asphalt does not come up to the level of the letdown from the concrete curb yet.

I imagine they will fully repave the bridge and approaches and get it to it's final thickness once the connection to SFPR is complete. So probably a while yet. You can also see the road is not in its final alignment where the south approach meets the abutment embankment.

Still lots of work left to be done on the bridge.

[Tvisforme]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Yeah this is easily the biggest difference and will speed things up.

Yes, the Lions Gate Bridge saw an improvement in traffic flow after the 2000 deck replacement project, even though the number of lanes did not change.

[jollyburger]

FWIW the southbound lanes also seems unfinished since it has one of those noticeable ridges when they are repaving the highway. Did they ever repave the Port Mann the first year or two after opening?

[Changing City]

The old bridge was full of cyclists and pedestrians yesterday. It closes on Tuesday, but will be open again today.

[SpongeG]

I drove over it on Saturday, the road was quite rough, maybe more paving to come? the old bridge had a lot of people walking and cycling on it.

The new bridge, at least on the northbound side had no pedestrian lane, as half is not ready yet, I don't know if the Southbound side is ready for them but stoill a lot of work on the bridge itself to be called completed.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Lexus

Semi trucks now can stay in one lane, and overall increase in width of lanes plus the shoulder will naturally make drivers go faster.

that wasn't my issue, KGB used to be three lanes as you came down that hill to where that intersection is with the gas stations and McDonalds. Now the far right lane you are forced to turn right towards the east. So now everyone starts to bunch up near 112th into two lanes instead of three and then at that intersection by the McDonalds and Chevron you have a ton of traffic joining from west and east and than people cheat and try to get out of the right lane andd push their way in. And than you hit where all the Scott Road Traffic joins in and you have three lanes trying to squeese into two lanes to get to the bridge. The North side is better now that vehicles can get to Columbia directly from the bridge and less bunching up where they used to all turn for Columbia and Royal Ave.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I drove over it on Saturday, the road was quite rough, maybe more paving to come? the old bridge had a lot of people walking and cycling on it.

The new bridge, at least on the northbound side had no pedestrian lane, as half is not ready yet, I don't know if the Southbound side is ready for them but stoill a lot of work on the bridge itself to be called completed.

They said the east side opens late spring and the other side mid-2026.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Dave2

We should have learned this lesson in the 70s, reducing speed limits to below the speed of traffic just leads to people ignoring them.

Oh we have learned it. They did a city-wide study a few years ago and re-labeled some streets.

Basically, the posted speed limit is immaterial. People will travel the speed at which the road is designed. THAT is the true speed limit.

[Stainer]

I'd bet the speed limit is temporarily lower due to not having the final surface complete. Hitting those expansion joints at full speed would be bad for both them and your vehicle.

[idunno]

^^^smartest point yet on this topic!

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Stainer

I'd bet the speed limit is temporarily lower due to not having the final surface complete. Hitting those expansion joints at full speed would be bad for both them and your vehicle.

But isn't the design and construction of the bridge specifically rated as a posted speed of 50 km/h with a design speed of 60 km/h? (Page 40)

https://www.infrastructurebc.com/wp-cont...-and-Construction-Execution-REDACTED.pdf