Pattullo Bridge Rehabilitation Project

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I was under the impression that the bridge was going to close down completely for the entire period until the fall, but they seem to be trying to keep 1 lane per direction open during the week. Is that a change of plans? Or is it just my lousy memory?

I think it was always meant to have one lane open each way.

[Sheba]

The info on the Buzzer Blog has always said one lane open most of the time. The latest from them:

• The bridge will close from the evening on April 29 (8 p.m.) to the morning of May 2 (5 a.m.) to allow crews to set up for construction work. The bridge will also close from the evening of September 30 (8 p.m.) to the morning of October 3 (5 a.m.) for crews to remove equipment.
• From May 2 to September 30, the bridge will have one lane open in each direction except for two nights a week and one weekend a month when the bridge will close to vehicle traffic. Be sure to head to our closure schedule for ongoing, updated closures.
• Trucks will still have access when the bridge is open.
• Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge, even during evening and weekend closures.
• Minor vehicle incidents on the bridge will cause significant traffic delays and potentially a full bridge closure.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I think it was always meant to have one lane open each way.

Originally Posted by Sheba

The info on the Buzzer Blog has always said one lane open most of the time.

Ah well, must be the memory then.

That means it won't be quite as bad as I was imagining...

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by Klazu

First day of Pattullo closure and Queensborough Bridge was already a mess. I didn't drive Alex Fraser Bridge, but they said on the radio that it was just as busy as during weekday rush hour. Surprisingly also Oak Street Bridge was backed up all the way to Shell Road.

Seems like it's going to be a summer of congestion in the Metro.

Saturday morning I had to go into BCIT for a class. I was on the SFPR at 9am and when I got to the connector to go over the AFB it was insanity. It took me 32 minutes to get from the SFPR to finally merging onto the AFB. That's typically (with no traffic) a 4 minute drive.

32 minutes. Saturday. 9am. And was basically the same on the way back home at 2pm. Took me 18 minutes to get over the AFB. Yes over. That's start of AFB to end of AFB.

And people say the Pattullo bridge isn't important. Morons I tell you, just complete morons.

[AForce]

The bridge has been closed before. Remember the fire a few years back? It will take people a bit to adjust but shouldn't be terrible once things settle down. The 91 connector is a problem, period

[logicbomb]

^ I recall the Patullo closure. Hwy #1 was a total mess and 152nd was backing up to 100th Avenue in Surrey. I just wish all these commuters in North Surrey wouldn't go through so much trouble to avoid a toll. I know how quickly it adds up but the alternatives right now could cost someone countless hours of their time and years off their life with the added stress.

Originally Posted by jhausner

Saturday morning I had to go into BCIT for a class. I was on the SFPR at 9am and when I got to the connector to go over the AFB it was insanity. It took me 32 minutes to get from the SFPR to finally merging onto the AFB. That's typically (with no traffic) a 4 minute drive.

32 minutes. Saturday. 9am. And was basically the same on the way back home at 2pm. Took me 18 minutes to get over the AFB. Yes over. That's start of AFB to end of AFB.

And people say the Pattullo bridge isn't important. Morons I tell you, just complete morons.

I recommend anyone going to the AFB to either take Scott Rd and enter Hwy 91 from 64th or 72nd rather than Nordel or the 91C. It will add 10-15 min to your commute, but save you over 30+ minutes.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

^ I recall the Patullo closure. Hwy #1 was a total mess and 152nd was backing up to 100th Avenue in Surrey. I just wish all these commuters in North Surrey wouldn't go through so much trouble to avoid a toll. I know how quickly it adds up but the alternatives right now could cost someone countless hours of their time and years off their life with the added stress.

I would have taken it but the AFB was closer from where I was starting (Tilbury area). I agree with you though the Port Mann bridge is starting to get congested through Coquitlam an into Burnaby every day now. The traffic is actually starting to get bad again. Granted it doesn't back up onto the bridge but you can trug along through Coquitlam all the way to Gaglardi and be averaging 30kph on most days. It's not always perfect and free of traffic like some make it out to be.

I recommend anyone going to the AFB to either take Scott Rd and enter Hwy 91 from 64th or 72nd rather than Nordel or the 91C. It will add 10-15 min to your commute, but save you over 30+ minutes.

Again was in Tilbury so for me specifically, wouldn't have helped. That's a SUPER LONG double back from there to get to Scott Road or 72nd given you really can't.

I wasn't expecting 9am Saturday to seem like a 5pm Friday.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by AForce

The bridge has been closed before. Remember the fire a few years back? It will take people a bit to adjust but shouldn't be terrible once things settle down. The 91 connector is a problem, period

You don't seem to have a very good memory. The fire closed the bridge down January 18th 2009. The bridge re-opened January 26th 2009. That is a whopping 8 days closed.

And traffic was quite noticeably increased on all other bridges. Was it traffic chaos? No, but the traffic increase was definitely noticed by those South of Fraser and remember this was 5 working days, so basically 1 business week closed.

5 days worth of impact on commuter traffic.

I think we're going to see a much different scenario this time around. MUCH different. For starters we have 250,000 more people this time around, and only 2 extra lanes crossing the Fraser River throughout the entire region.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by jhausner

You don't seem to have a very good memory. The fire closed the bridge down January 18th 2009. The bridge re-opened January 26th 2009. That is a whopping 8 days closed.

They did a pretty amazing job getting that thing patched up so quickly. But I remember that at the beginning they expected it to be closed for a lot longer - up to a month as I recall. People were girding themselves for a much longer closure, so they may have been quicker to come up with alternate plans.

It may actually be a disadvantage to keeping the Patullo partially open - it may take people a bit longer to realize that they can no longer drive around as if everything was normal.

[GeeCee]

Yep, there was a temporary bridge left over from Canada Line construction - http://dailycommercialnews.com/Infra...ek-DCN032263W/

[Trainguy]

Did anyone take the Patullo bridge this morning with one lane each way?

If so, how long did it take to get over going north bound?

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by Trainguy

Did anyone take the Patullo bridge this morning with one lane each way?

If so, how long did it take to get over going north bound?

Apparently a lot of people were caught off guard and traffic backed up to near University Dr. Added 20-30 min to peoples commute.

Traffic was brutal on Nordel Way and the 91 connector (saw a picture on my facebook). I assume it will get worse tomorrow as more people opt to take the AFB.

Thing is, it doesn't look too bad right now.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Apparently a lot of people were caught off guard and traffic backed up to near University Dr. Added 20-30 min to peoples commute.

Traffic was brutal on Nordel Way and the 91 connector (saw a picture on my facebook). I assume it will get worse tomorrow as more people opt to take the AFB.

Thing is, it doesn't look too bad right now.

TransLink was predicting an additional 30-45 minutes for people's commute, so maybe it's actually better than expected? edit: actually they said "up to 40 minutes".

I took the Port Mann yesterday (had to go from New West to Whalley) and it was smooth sailing the entire way. Not even any congestion along Brunette like I was expecting.

[Trainguy]

20 - 30 minutes extra in idle time surely chews up more than $3.15 in gas not to mention the wasted time and frustration waiting in line and wear and tear on brakes etc. Not worth it to me. Took the PM instead and flew across it...

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by jhausner

Saturday morning I had to go into BCIT for a class. I was on the SFPR at 9am and when I got to the connector to go over the AFB it was insanity. It took me 32 minutes to get from the SFPR to finally merging onto the AFB. That's typically (with no traffic) a 4 minute drive.

32 minutes. Saturday. 9am. And was basically the same on the way back home at 2pm. Took me 18 minutes to get over the AFB. Yes over. That's start of AFB to end of AFB.

And people say the Pattullo bridge isn't important. Morons I tell you, just complete morons.

A) weekend drivers are always the worst. Any curve balls thrown their way and their brains can't handle it.

B) I have a feeling a huge number of people had no idea this was happening. So when they get to their usual Saturday/Sunday pattullo crossing, the bridge is closed and their brain shuts down. They are forced onto Scott Road and have no idea where they are. They are driving 10km/h while trying to ask Siri where to go. Then get onto the SFPR and are scared witless because they've never been on the road before, then aren't sure that the connector is the right place to be, so drive slow to be careful. And that just messes everyone else up.

On Saturday evening I was heading west on the SFPR and decided to use Bridgeview to get to Scott Road (via King George) because I was curious to see the bridge closed. There weren't that many cars on King George, but the ones that were and got through the light ahead of me (about 15 or so) were ALL in the rightmost lanes and all slammed on their breaks at the barriers to get over to the Scott Road exit at the last second. Then they ALL got lost on that road that connects through (near the Skytrain Station/PnR) and slammed on their breaks again, with several cars seeing too late they were going to enter the bus loop. There was even a limo driver who made the wrong exit and had to back up.

They all then proceeded to drive about 40km/h on Scott Road in all 3 lanes, then they all slammed on their breaks at 104/Tannery and clumsily merged into the right lane to turn right onto Tannery.

So it wouldn't surprise me if Saturday and Sunday were especially bad because a small number of people were driving on roads they rarely drive on, thus were making bad lane changes and driving slower than normal.

Many people are creatures of habit, and can't cope with change. Even right now, AFB and PMB are clear, but McBride is backed up to 8th, at 2:30!

[logicbomb]

Well... traffic looks god awful out there. Hwy 17 is backed up in ALL directions. Some people are doing illegal u-turns @ the 72nd and Hwy 91 intersection to try and bypass the connector.

Patullo is causing 40 min delays in New West (backed up to McBride @ Tenth).

[BCPhil]

They are saying that traffic is already up 10 to 15% on the Port Mann Bridge.

The Port Mann Bridge is seeing a jump in traffic as several thousand more drivers pay tolls to avoid worse-than-usual traffic delays at the free Pattullo Bridge as a result of construction.

Transportation Investment Corp. spokesman Greg Johnson said 10 to 15 per cent more vehicles crossed the Port Mann on Monday and Tuesday this week than would on a typical weekday.

Normal weekday traffic for the toll bridge is between 100,000 and 110,000 crossings.

http://www.surreyleader.com/news/378162441.html

That's just 2 days of the reduced lanes for commuters. I'm thinking that by next week, it's over 20%.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

They are saying that traffic is already up 10 to 15% on the Port Mann Bridge. ... That's just 2 days of the reduced lanes for commuters. I'm thinking that by next week, it's over 20%.

Maybe people will get accustomed to the fast journey over the new bridge and be a little more willing to continue parting with their money even after the Patullo is fully re-opened.

It's a shame that Treo doesn't offer some sort of discount for a monthly pass or perhaps for pre-paying for a block of crossings. I think people would be a lot more inclined to use the bridge if they felt there were getting some sort of deal on it, even if it's only a small one.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Maybe people will get accustomed to the fast journey over the new bridge and be a little more willing to continue parting with their money even after the Patullo is fully re-opened.

It's a shame that Treo doesn't offer some sort of discount for a monthly pass or perhaps for pre-paying for a block of crossings. I think people would be a lot more inclined to use the bridge if they felt there were getting some sort of deal on it, even if it's only a small one.

This is what absolutely frustrates me. They would instantly see a rise in the number of crossings if you could pre-purchase a discounted monthly/weekly pass that makes sense...

Right now, I would have to take 50 trips (25 days a month back and forth) to break even on a monthly pass. It's just such a stupid incentive and a reason why no one is buying it.

Idea:
$120/ monthly for a small vehicle (savings of 65 cents per trip)
10 trips for $29 (savings of 25 cents per trip)

Boom, people like saving, even if it's for dimes and nickles.

[Klazu]

There has been so much back and forth on this that I am confused. Is this current closure now that 100+ million dollar rehabilitation project that this thread was originally created for? Are they really wasting all that money on the old bridge eventhough recently both Surrey and New Westminster NIMBYs have been more positive towards the idea of a new bridge? I thought it was a bluff to encourage the new bridge, but did that plan fail?