The new Fraser River bridge connecting Surrey and New Westminster has finally received a name, given by First Nations.
The Kwantlen First Nation and the Musqueam Indian Band unveiled the name Monday morning at the Surrey side of the new crossing, which is nearing completion and will replace the aging Pattullo Bridge.
The structure will be called is
stal̕əw̓asəm (pronounced stoll-O-osum) Bridge
, meaning “a space where you can view the river.” It translates into English as Riverview.
The bridge’s name is from the Coast Salish language hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓.
Mike Farnworth, B.C.’s transportation minister, said Monday the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge is “more than just a name.”
“It acknowledges the history of these lands, and represents the preservation of culture and language,” he said.
Chief Marilyn Gabriel of the Kwantlen First Nation said a traditional name is “not bestowed lightly” and “carries reminders and responsibilities.”
“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 $1.6 billion replacement project’s bridge deck is now connected and the final paving is underway, Farnworth said, adding the bridge is expected to open partly on Dec. 24. The northbound lane to Columbia Street in New Westminster will be the first to open.
The new bridge will continue to open in phases, with a planned closure of the new and existing bridge for one week in late January, Farnworth said. The new bridge won’t be fully open until February.
Because the new bridge will have to tie into the existing road network — King George Boulevard on the Surrey side and McBride Boulevard on the New West side — additional work is needed to manage traffic on both sides to complete the switchover.
A 2016 report that found the current bridge, built in the 1930s and named after Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, the 22nd premier of B.C., no longer meets safety standards. In 2018, the province approved the construction of a new bridge.
Farnworth was asked by reporters Monday about the controversy surrounding the choice to
source steel and fabrication services
from China, and claims it has led to job losses, but the minister said, “People who say that don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s really that simple.”
Farnworth acknowledged that some materials were sourced overseas, but they were all inspected in B.C. by skilled workers. He did not directly answer if the reliance on Chinese materials contributed to a loss in work for local residents, but said the people who built the bridge are “nearly all British Columbians.”
The new bridge includes four wider lanes than the existing structure, and features a centre median and barrier-separated walking and cycling lanes on both sides. According to the ministry, stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge is double the width of the Pattullo Bridge. It is designed to potentially be six lanes in the future.
The new bridge was originally scheduled to open in 2023, then it was pushed to 2024 and again to this fall, with the target now set for Christmas.
Costs for the new bridge increased as the timeline for completion kept extending. While a government sign near the site still states its cost at $1.377 billion, the project has a total price of $1.637 billion.
The Pattullo Bridge will be demolished once stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge is fully open.
