New Pitt River Bridge opens to traffic

Metro Vancouver's new Pitt River Bridge moved one step closer to completion this weekend, ending years of traffic interruption caused by the two old swing bridges that are periodically closed tovehicles in order to allow boats through.

The new bridge connects the communities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam along the Lougheed Highway with Pitt Meadows, east of Vancouver.

Four lanes of the seven-lane bridge were opened for commuters on Sunday. When the final work on the bridge is completed later this fall, the bridge will have three westbound lanes and four eastbound lanes.

The fourth eastbound lane was added to service truck traffic from the CP Rail yard. The design also allows one extra lane to be added in the futurethat could be used for a light rail line.

No tolls

The bridge is theuntolled alternative to the Golden Ears Bridge that opened in June. The $198-million project also includes a new interchange for the Lougheed Highway and the Mary Hill bypass.

The new bridge is a cable-stayed structure, which minimizes the number of piers in the river and their impact on the river ecology.The 16-metre clearance will allow boat traffic to travel underneath.

Cyclists and pedestrians will eventually be able to use a 3.5 metre-wide two-way pedestrian and cycling pathway on the north side of the bridge. A two metre-wide shoulder will eventually open on the south side of the bridge.

The old swing bridges will be removed once the new bridge is completed.