The steel arch of the old Pattullo Bridge is scheduled to come down the weekend of October 9 to 11, 2026. Crews will lower it onto barges in the Fraser River, working 24 hours a day for roughly 48 to 60 hours, weather permitting.
The Pattullo Bridge Replacement project notice, dated October 5, and its arch removal information sheet lay out the plan.
Most recent notices from this project have been about lane changes, like the new Highway 17 off-ramp in September. This one closes no lanes at all: the impact is on the river, and the main thing asked of people on the new bridge is not to stop and watch.
What to know
When: The weekend of Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11, 2026. The project says the work is weather dependent and will run around the clock.
On the river: The main Fraser River navigation channel is closed from the evening of October 9 to the evening of October 11. The domestic navigation channel stays open for marine traffic with enough height clearance. Marine users can check the project current works page for daily navigation updates.
On the bridge: The stal̕əw̓asəm (Riverview) Bridge and its east multi-use path stay open, and traffic is not affected. Stopping on the bridge to view the arch lowering is not permitted.
What you might see: Torches cutting the arch from the bridge span will be visible on the morning of Saturday, October 10.
Noise: Nearby residents may hear noise from the deconstruction work.
How the arch comes down
The information sheet says crews have already removed concrete parts to lighten the arch and installed temporary bracing and beams to support it. Four large strand jacks, which are hydraulic winch systems, sit on those beams with steel cables attached.
Tugboats will position joined barges under the arch. Crews will cut selected steel pieces while the jacks hold the load, then slowly lower the arch onto the barges, a step the project says depends on weather and tides. The barges will then be towed to the trestle at the project site for dismantling and recycling, and the main channel reopens once they are docked and secured.
If you want to watch
The project has no designated viewing areas. It says the lowering may be visible from spots along the Fraser River such as Brownsville Bar Park in Surrey and Westminster Pier Park or Albert Crescent Park in New Westminster. For safety, do not stop on the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, enter the closed marine channel, or go into construction sites.
Source
- Pattullo Bridge Replacement: Pattullo Bridge arch removal notice (October 5, 2026)
- Pattullo Bridge Arch Removal Information Sheet
- Pattullo Bridge Replacement current works
- 24/7 construction information line: 1-844-815-6149 | info@fcgp.ca
