Still no solution for aging Pattullo as Surrey, New West disagree

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SURREY (NEWS1130) – Surrey and New Westminster are still at odds over what to do about the aging Pattullo Bridge, even after a New West Councillor addressed Surrey’s Transportation Committee this week.

Surrey Councillor Tom Gill says New Westminster understands there is pressure from a regional position, but New West still won’t agree to a six-lane replacement crossing–even if one lane remains closed until infrastructure upgrades catch up. “The context of a six lane bridge was simply that until infrastructure materializes on the New Westminster side in terms of possibly a tunnel or other infrastructure improvements that third lane not open. Again, New Westminster was not open to that dialogue.”

Gill says he is happy that New West has finally gotten on board with replacing the wooden span, which he says has seismic issues making it inappropriate to spend any more money patching up the crossing which was erected in 1936.

“We’ve been doing a number of investments in this bridge over the years. And specifically the investments that I’m referring to is really the consulting. We’ve almost spent nearly 4-million dollars in consulting over the last number of years and really it’s now time to make a decision and move forward,” says Gill.

He adds New West’s proposal of tolls or preventing trucks from crossing aren’t realistic and he’s disappointed the city hasn’t been open to alternate suggestions.

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