Pattullo Bridge replacement gets new name, date for phased opening

After delays and cost overruns, a crossing connecting Surrey and New Westminster is soon set to open to traffic.

Officials have announced a new name for the long-awaited Pattullo Bridge replacement, along with a launch date for the project’s phased opening.

The crossing will be named stal̕əw̓asəm, a hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word meaning “a space where you can view the river,” the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said Monday.

The Kwantlen First Nation and Musqueam Indian Band were asked to provide the name, in recognition of their deep ties to the lands on both sides of the bridge and the Fraser River, officials said.

In a statement, Kwantlen Chief Marilyn Gabriel said a traditional name such as stal̕əw̓asəm is “not bestowed lightly, and carries reminders and responsibilities.”

“With the new name, we honour our past, present and future, and the importance of this area to both Kwantlen and Musqueam,” Gabriel said. “The name reminds us that with many connections shared in this area, we all are responsible to honour and uphold its well-being and generosity it has provided for countless generations.”

The English name will be Riverview, but the province encouraged residents to use the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ version to “honour and celebrate Indigenous language and culture, support language revitalization, and demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation.”

Phased opening date announced

The B.C. government also confirmed the new bridge is scheduled to partially open on Dec. 24.

Traffic will be switched from the Pattullo to the stal̕əw̓asəm in phases, with the first phase allowing some northbound traffic onto the new crossing.

Both bridges will be closed in the third week of January to make way for construction, officials said.

The Pattullo, which is nearly 90 years old, is a critical route for commuters between Surrey and New Westminster, with tens of thousands of daily crossings.

The replacement was originally scheduled to open in 2023, but the province pushed that date to 2024 due to challenges tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, before announcing another delay that May.

The Ministry of Transportation cited supply-chain problems, inflation, and longer-than-anticipated work on the bridge’s main tower as reasons for the setback. That tower—now complete—marks one of the project’s biggest milestones.

What drivers can expect

Once finished, the new bridge will include wider lanes separated by a centre median, along with dedicated walking and cycling paths designed to improve safety. The project’s budget now sits at $1.6 billion.

But the four-lane design has drawn criticism from Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, who has argued the structure won’t support the city’s rapid population growth. New Westminster officials, meanwhile, have said a six-lane bridge would bring too much traffic into their community.

Despite the debate, both cities agree improvements are urgently needed on the aging Pattullo Bridge, which will remain open until the new crossing is complete. Construction has already prompted periodic closures.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Kraig Krause and Ian Holliday