Traffic alert: Pattullo Bridge to close southbound for 3 nights

Construction workers work on the new Pattullo Bridge being built as a replacement for the aging bridge, right, that opened in 1937, in New Westminster, B.C., on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The bridge spans the Fraser River and connects New Westminster and Surrey. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck (DARRYL DYCK/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Attention drivers: The southbound lanes of the Pattullo Bridge will close for three nights this week, as the opening of the new crossing is on the horizon.

The route from New Westminster to Surrey will be closed to traffic, cyclists and pedestrians on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday between 9 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Northbound travel into New Westminster will not be affected by the closures.

“These closures are needed to secure a new overhead directional traffic sign along King George Boulevard. The large sign will be installed over the right lane of the replacement bridge, before the Scott Road exit ramp,” TransLink wrote in a notice.

“Heavy equipment, including a drill rig, will be blocking traffic lanes near the south side of the existing bridge. To ensure public safety, both southbound bridge lanes will need to be closed.”

TransLink advised drivers to use the Port Mann or Alex Fraser bridges instead, saying people should plan for up to 30 minutes of extra travel time. The N19 night bus will reroute over the Alex Fraser and Queensborough bridges.

Construction on a replacement for the nearly 100-year-old bridge over the Fraser River began in 2021 and the new bridge, which cost about $1.6 billion, is set to open by Christmas.