New Westminster continues to push for a review of a better connection between the South Fraser Perimeter Road and the new Port Mann Bridge.
The City of New Westminster is working with TransLink and Surrey on a review of the Pattullo Bridge project.
The city is concerned that commuters, and especially truckdrivers, will take the Pattullo Bridge through New Westminster to avoid a longer route to get from the South Fraser to the new Port Mann Bridge.
While attending the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, several city officials had a chance to chat with Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak about the Pattullo Bridge and the city’s belief that a better connection needs to be built from the South Fraser Perimeter Road to the Port Mann Bridge.
“I found that Minster Polak was probably the most versed on this,” said Coun. Chuck Puchmayr. “She had done her research, she understood the file.”
New Westminster officials informed the minister that 70 to 85 per cent of traffic coming over the Pattullo Bridge has no business in New Westminster.
“Anything other than having a direct connection to the Port Mann Bridge would have a significant impact on New Westminster,” he said. “I think she understands there is no capacity in New Westminster.”
An Oct. 1 staff report to council said that the South Fraser Perimeter Road is a provincial inter-regional route for commercial vehicle movement and links key industrial and port activity areas located on the south side of the Fraser River. The city’s view is that TransLink’s current proposal to introduce a direct connection between South Fraser Perimeter Royal and the future Pattullo Bridge needs to be “reexamined” in collaboration with TransLink and the City of Surrey, and a direct ramp connection between South Fraser Perimeter Road and Highway 1 needs to be examined in more detail…
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