Image: B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit /

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Fraser Valley MLA speaks out

Fraser Valley MLA speaks out on delayed, over-budget completion of the Pattullo Bridge replacement

Dec 8, 2025 | 2:04 PM

SURREY — Fraser Valley MLA and transportation critic Misty Van Popta says now is not exactly the time to celebrate the overdue, over-budget completion of the Pattullo Bridge replacement.

According to a statement released Monday, Langley-Walnut Grove MLA Van Popta says Metro Vancouver needs major infrastructure that keeps pace with growth, and the bridge’s replacement epitomizes the B.C. NDP-led government’s failure to achieve that goal.

Van Popta, the Critic for the Ministry of Transportation and Transt, says the project was announced in 2018 and was supposed to be completed in 2023. By the time it fully opens, it will be approximately three years late and roughly $367 million over budget. Even with one lane expected to open on December 24, 2025, and all lanes by mid-February, significant traffic impacts and construction disruptions are expected to continue well into the new year.

“And after all of that time and money, the region is getting a four-lane bridge to replace a four-lane bridge in the fastest-growing area of the province,” Van Popta said. “Commuters and businesses need capacity, reliability, and a plan that actually reduces congestion, not years of delays, cost overruns, and the same bottleneck at the end.”

Image: MLA Misty Van Popta.

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Fraser Valley MLA speaks out

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The B.C. government released a statement heralding the new Indigenous name for the Pattullo Bridge, stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge, but gave no mention of its overdue, over-budget status.

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit says the bridge replacement features four wider lanes with a centre median; separated walking and cycling lanes; a modern seismic and safety design; and improved reliability for people traveling between New Westminster and Surrey.

But the bridge’s new attributes aren’t winning over its Langley critic, who says the province needs to be more transparent about upcoming closures.

“British Columbians deserve infrastructure delivered on time and on budget, built for the growth already here,” Van Popta said. “The government should publish a clear, detailed schedule for the remaining work and closures, and explain how it plans to address congestion and capacity across this corridor.”