Pattullo Bridge’s familiar orange arch removed for recycling

The steel arch of the Pattullo Bridge was removed over the Oct. 9–11 long weekend as deconstruction continues on the old crossing between Surrey and New Westminster. The bridge permanently closed to traffic last February, when the new Stal̕əw̓asəm (“Riverview”) Bridge opened high above the Fraser River.

Project managers said the arch was lowered slowly over 48 to 60 hours using strand jacks, hydraulic linear winch systems. It was placed on barges on the river for transport to another site, where it will be dismantled and recycled.

The lowering was visible from spots along the Fraser River, including Brownsville Bar Park in Surrey and Westminster Pier Park and Albert Crescent Park in New Westminster. Residents had been told to expect additional noise. Torches cutting the arch were visible Saturday morning as part of what project managers described as a carefully managed process.

The Pattullo Bridge opened in 1937. Its complete deconstruction is expected to take a year or more.