NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — With the bridge deck connected and final paving underway, the new crossing that will replace the Pattullo Bridge has received its new name: stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge.
Coming from the Kwantlen First Nation and Musqueam Indian Band, stal̕əw̓asəm can be understood as “a space where you can view the river,” explains a release. The English name is Riverview.
The name recognizes First Nations’ historical connections to the area. Former Musqueam Indian Reserve No. 1 and Kwantlen Indian Reserve No. 8 were in qiqéyt, an important village site near the base of the bridge in Surrey.
The new name marks another milestone as traffic will begin shifting to the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge from the Pattullo Bridge in phases over the coming weeks as work wraps up.
The new $1.4-billion bridge includes four wider lanes with a centre median and barrier-separated walking and cycling lanes.
Coast Salish artwork, featuring themes of kinship-based trade, transportation and intergenerational connection, is being integrated into project elements on and around the new bridge, the release adds.
Traffic will be switched onto the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge from the old Pattullo Bridge in phases to allow for completion of the tie-ins to the roadways on either side.
On opening day, a single lane of northbound traffic will exit to eastbound East Columbia via the new off ramp. The new bridge has been designed to meet modern seismic, structural and roadway design standards.
Once the new bridge is open, the existing bridge will be removed.
Fraser Crossing Partners, selected by the Province of British Columbia to design, build and partially finance the project, is a 50/50 joint venture between Aecon and Acciona.
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