A picture on the Patullo Bridge taken with my first digital camera in 2002. Look near the bottom of this entry to activate a slide show of other personal photos which either include the structure or were taken from it.
It's a tired, old thing. The Patullo Bridge crosses the Fraser River between the cities of Surrey and New Westminster, British Columbia. Just as people can come to admire the ugliness of a pug breed of dog, I have grown to love the classic design of the Patullo. Because of living in downtown New Westminster, the 74 year old structure is a part of daily life.
It is dangerous but still a major route for area commuters. The lanes are scary as they are far too narrow for the four lanes of traffic using it. Both the north and south approaches are curved. People die in head-on collisions on the bridge as there is not room for barriers as a median.
There's been talk of replacement or refurbishment since we arrived here in the 1990's. The whole controversy is rearing it's ugly head again. The regional transit authority, Translink, is again re-visiting its options. Questions include whether is should be increased to six lanes and if it should be tolled. There are big debates about how a new bridge could be connected on the New Westminster side because of existing houses and a proposed perimeter route on the north side of the Fraser.
In true local nimbyism, I'd like to suggest it be closed permanently to traffic and become a cross-river pedestrian garden and park. To hell with the traffic that is funneled though our city; let 'em cross elsewhere!
