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

[yesheh]

New website -

http://www.pattullobridgereview.ca/

Not really anything of note yet though. Still - progress.

[Metro-One]

Oh god, they have New West involved...

I really hope that they do not keep the existing structure, or replace it with a watered down 4 lane design.

Instead, knowing how New West will kick and scream like a little baby, I hope they build a new proper link (6 lanes expressway style) near that Sapperton Bar area, with an interchange connecting it to the SFPR, and then make that section the western end of the NFPR (so continue to build a proper connection to highway 1).

As for biking and pedestrians, is there any way that can be added to the existing skytrain bridge?

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Oh god, they have New West involved...

I really hope that they do not keep the existing structure, or replace it with a watered down 4 lane design.

Instead, knowing how New West will kick and scream like a little baby, I hope they build a new proper link (6 lanes expressway style) near that Sapperton Bar area, with an interchange connecting it to the SFPR, and then make that section the western end of the NFPR (so continue to build a proper connection to highway 1).

As for biking and pedestrians, is there any way that can be added to the existing skytrain bridge?

Well New Westminster is an important stakeholder regardless. I think the tone of the City Council has changed recently: they are at least reconsidering the United Blvd extension. Ultimately, while I disagree with their stance on many regional projects, I do understand they are trying to protect local interests.

As for the Skybridge, aren't there existing weight/structural restrictions whereby the number of trains on the bridge deck are limited? I would assume any additional structures may not work without extensive upgrades.

[makr3trkr]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Oh god, they have New West involved...

I really hope that they do not keep the existing structure, or replace it with a watered down 4 lane design.

Instead, knowing how New West will kick and scream like a little baby, I hope they build a new proper link (6 lanes expressway style) near that Sapperton Bar area, with an interchange connecting it to the SFPR, and then make that section the western end of the NFPR (so continue to build a proper connection to highway 1).

As for biking and pedestrians, is there any way that can be added to the existing skytrain bridge?

Only way I could see a 4-lane replacement as acceptable is if it was hand-in-hand with a Queensboro twin or 6-lane replacement. Anytime you have any incident on one of the two New West bridges the whole region is paralyzed.

[Millennium2002]

I think someone pointed out in the NFPR thread that New Westminster probably wants the NFPR and/or a McBride Tunnel wrapped into the scope of the Pattullo Bridge, and rightly so: The bridge may surely be a congested mess, but so are all the roads feeding into it.

However, this raises a problem: we all know that TransLink is ill-suited and ill-funded for its dual role in both roads and transit, and now we're asking it to build a mega-project that may run upwards of 2 billion dollars or more when there are competing transit priorities also in that range that we wish to have built as well.

Surely, tolling will have to pay for a majority of the costs on the bridge, but my biggest concern is about what may have to be sacrificed to pay for the remainder. Will transit projects be forced take a back seat for the next 20 or 30 years? Will services be cut? Will a PPP be signed that may save short-term costs but cover up the final bill? etc?

Sadly, I don't have definitive answers to these problems. The one I'd pick would be to disassociate TransLink from the project and put either the national, provincial, or regional government in charge, but I know that the province wants to localize the problem in order to allay concerns about Vancouver eating up funds intended for the rest of BC...

Anyone else have further comments or suggestions on this?

[makr3trkr]

New Westminster News Leader - Peek at Pattullo plans upcoming

www.newwestnewsleader.com/news/208671901.html

4 hours ago – New Westminster residents will get their first sneak peak at TransLink's latest Pattullo Bridge alternatives on Tuesday, June 4.

Link broken now though

[tybuilding]

New plans and options comparisons:

http://www.surrey.ca/files/Pattullo-Bridge-Review-Discussion-Guide-June-2013.pdf

Surrey's website for the bridge review:

http://www.surrey.ca/city-services/13486.aspx

The Surrey-Coquitlam bridge option is attractive to me only if they retain the Existing Patullo as a 2 lane bridge or 3 lane with the improved cycling & pedestrian pathways. I use the bridge everyday for commuting by cycling. Without retaining a bridge at the existing location it would add 4 km for me. Or they can keep the existing bridge for pedestrians and cyclists only but it is not favored by this study for further consideration.

It looks like the options going forward:

Rehab existing bridge for 3 or 4 lanes
New bridge at existing location 4, 5 or 6 lanes
New Coquitlam - Surrey Bridge 4 lanes with keeping the existing bridge and rehab with 2 or 3 lanes.

I would support the rehab option, new 4 lane bridge option and the Coquitlam - Surrey bridge with rehab of the existing to either 2 or 3 lane configurations.

A 2 lane existing bridge would be nice. Retain the sidewalk 1.8m . 2.5 m bike path, 0.5m barrier, 3.75m lane, 1.5m island, 3.75m lane = 12 m (existing bridge deck) + 1.8m sidewalk

Originally Posted by makr3trkr

New Westminster News Leader - Peek at Pattullo plans upcoming

www.newwestnewsleader.com/news/208671901.html

4 hours ago – New Westminster residents will get their first sneak peak at TransLink's latest Pattullo Bridge alternatives on Tuesday, June 4.

Link broken now though

[WarrenC12]

With New West being.... the way they are, I think the Surrey-Coq crossing makes the most sense. I can't imagine a new bridge being constructed either while the existing one remains intact, or in a close location and re-aligning everything.

Rehabilitating it to a 2-3 lane bridge with better cycling and pedestrian routes sounds great to me. Oh ya, and ban trucks!

[red-paladin]

I think we'll find out it's too much money/uncertainty to refurb the bridges, just like it was with the Port Mann bridge.

[Pinion]

I'm not an expert in the area but a bridge towards Sapperton seems to make a lot more sense?

[Ehlun]

Originally Posted by Pinion

I'm not an expert in the area but a bridge towards Sapperton seems to make a lot more sense?

I'm no expert either, but the problem with all bridges is they are all bottlenecks. Building an alternative crossing would divert traffic away from the Pattullo and alleviate some of the pressure.

[Pinion]

The fact that there's even a possibility of getting a new bridge plus refurbishing the current one makes me very, very jealous - tolls or not.

Won't count on that when Ironworkers is reaching its end.

[Metro-One]

Yes, I like the idea of a new 4 lane bridge and refurbishing the existing bridge for 2 or 3 lanes with good bike / pedestrian connections.

[Meraki]

I thought the new Surrey-Coquitlam bridge would turn the Brunette entrance to Highway 1 into an even bigger mess.

[Metro-One]

Well, if done properly it will be built with the new Blue Mountain interchange that is planned (which I believe would include the closure of the Brunette interchange).

Also, this bridge better be connected to the SFPR with a full interchange on its southern side, and does this mean that temporary traffic light will now be removed just west of the Patullo on the SFPR?

[makr3trkr]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Well, if done properly it will be built with the new Blue Mountain interchange that is planned (which I believe would include the closure of the Brunette interchange).

Also, this bridge better be connected to the SFPR with a full interchange on its southern side, and does this mean that temporary traffic light will now be removed just west of the Patullo on the SFPR?

If a Sapperton bridge is built, that "temporary" traffic light at Old Yale could languish for 15+ years. If the Pattullo is replaced, that light will probably get fixed (due to the proximity).

re: "New 6-Lane Sapperton Bar Bridge is NOT recommended for further evaluation"

You only need to look to the Queeensborough or Knight Street to see we shouldn't be building four-lane highway bridges anymore.

Without any overflow capacity, minor accidents become huge traffic snarls. If there are two through lanes, the third add-drop lane at either side is critical.

I think even if they kept the Pattullo as a two-lane bridge, there is enough volume to warrant a 6-lane Sapperton Bar Bridge.

Sad to see Richmond is opposing Tree Island, too.

[Zassk]

I thought the old Patullo bridge is teetering on the brink of crumbling into the river due to erosion. I am surprised that rehabilitation would be considered an option. This is not the same situation as the Lions Gate Bridge which was structurally sound and uses a design that allows for incremental parts replacement.

[xd_1771]

Originally Posted by deasine

As for the Skybridge, aren't there existing weight/structural restrictions whereby the number of trains on the bridge deck are limited? I would assume any additional structures may not work without extensive upgrades.

The Skybridge will be prepared to at the least handle 5-car Mark III trains every 2.3 minutes in the future. Beyond that, uncertain.

[Whalleyboy]

Originally Posted by makr3trkr

If a Sapperton bridge is built, that "temporary" traffic light at Old Yale could languish for 15+ years. If the Pattullo is replaced, that light will probably get fixed (due to the proximity).

re: "New 6-Lane Sapperton Bar Bridge is NOT recommended for further evaluation"

You only need to look to the Queeensborough or Knight Street to see we shouldn't be building four-lane highway bridges anymore.

Without any overflow capacity, minor accidents become huge traffic snarls. If there are two through lanes, the third add-drop lane at either side is critical.

I think even if they kept the Pattullo as a two-lane bridge, there is enough volume to warrant a 6-lane Sapperton Bar Bridge.

Sad to see Richmond is opposing Tree Island, too.

I am with you on the fact we should build the sapperton one and make it a 6 lane bridge. Its translink worrying about spending to much money and being shortsighted it seems

[Metro-One]

I agree, it should be 6 lanes, therefore allowing an HOV lane, bus lane, or commercial vehicle only lane to be implemented.