Pattullo Bridge replacement
The Stalewasem Bridge or the Riverview Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge spanning the Fraser River, currently under construction to replace the ageing Pattullo Bridge. When completed, the crossing will link the cities of New Westminster and Surrey in Metro Vancouver. One northbound lane of the bridge opened to vehicle traffic in 2025 with future phases to be completed in 2026 in tandem with the demolition of the existing Pattullo Bridge. The bridge received its Halkomelem name from the Kwantlen First Nation and Musqueam Indian Band. Road signage will include both its Halkomelem and English name.
The cable-stayed bridge will replace the existing through arch Pattullo Bridge which has spanned the Fraser River since 1937.
History
Background
On July 31, 2008, TransLink opted to replace the Pattullo Bridge as a new tolled bridge rather than refurbish the ageing structure. A key link between Surrey and the rest of Metro Vancouver, the Pattullo Bridge carried an average of 75,700 cars and 3,840 trucks daily in 2013, representing about 20% of Fraser River vehicle traffic.In June 2014, the Metro Vancouver Mayors' Council determined that the existing Pattullo Bridge would be demolished and replaced with a new, four-lane, tolled replacement bridge. Construction was expected to take place between 2019 and 2023, with the $1.3 billion funding finalized in 2018. It was later decided not to have tolls for the bridge.
On January 3, 2020, the government of British Columbia awarded a contract to Fraser Crossing Partnersa joint venture between Acciona Infrastructure Canada and Aecon Groupto design and construct the new bridge. The contract also included new road connections at the bridgeheads in New Westminster and Surrey.
Construction
In February 2021, construction began on the replacement bridge with an expected opening in 2024. This work was temporarily suspended to protect fish habitat. In 2024, the opening date was pushed back to late 2025.In the second quarter of 2025, the main span was successfully connected to the south approach, creating a continuous deck into Surrey. By mid-2025, crews were installing barriers, utilities, and expansion joints, with paving scheduled for later in third quarter.
In September 2025, Wendy Itagawa, the executive director of the project, told Surrey City Council that the bridge would open in December 2025. She stated there would be a week where neither the Pattullo Bridge or its replacement would be open to traffic.
Design
The Pattullo Bridge has a number of issues including not being seismically sound, having narrow lanes, and lacking barriers separating opposing traffic or pedestrians and cyclists. This created the need for a replacement.The new bridge is designed with four lanes of traffic but can be expanded to six lanes in the future. The city of New Westminster supported a four-lane design, while the city of Surrey supported six lanes.
The bridge will feature First Nations artwork, and artwork will also be installed near the bridge approaches. The first artwork has been installed—a design by Kwantlen First Nation artist q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ embossed into the Highway 17–Old Yale Road overpass.