Pattullo Bridge will re-open Monday at 6am
 

A fire that officials are investigating as a possible arson has lead to an indefinite closure of the Pattullo Bridge.

Translink spokesman Ken Hardie says flames were first reported shooting out from both sides of the South approach around 3am Sunday.

"What we can tell you at this point is that the damage is significant."

Hardie says the entire wood section of the Surrey approach may have to be replaced, keeping the bridge shut down for the foreseeable future.

"I think we have to be prepared in order of magnitude, for a month to six weeks."

Built in the 1930's, Translink reports the Pattullo Bridge handles 80,000 vehicles on an average weekday, and they are expecting chaos for the Monday morning commute.

By noon Sunday, Translink was already warning commuters to try and make alternate travel arrangements.

Hardie says when there are problems with the Pattullo, most traffic diverts via Highway 1 and the Port Mann Bridge, and Highway 91 and the Alex Fraser Bridge.

Officials also expect Skytrain and busses will be saddled with heavier loads between 6am and 9am on weekdays.

Translink, RCMP, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Emergency services held meetings Sunday afternoon to try and develop contingency plans not just for commuters, but emergency vehicles that rely on the crossing.

Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon told CKNW Sunday morning the incident underscores the need for the Pattullo to be replaced.

"I know the Premier, Federal Government and myself, we want to stitch together a partnership and get this thing replaced. Obviously there's going to be years of preparatory work before we ever get to that stage but we will certainly be a partner and help in any way we can."

Meanwhile, the RCMP is investigating the blaze in the creosote soaked approach supports as arson.
Witness Indy Bains was driving over the bridge when the fire broke out and says he saw 8 foot tall flames.

"By the time police had come it was coming out from both sides of the bridge right under."

Bains says a man was jumping and screaming near the fire and it appeared he was later arrested.
RCMP have yet to confirm any arrests.

Inspector Steve Wade says police are grappling with two very different situations.

"We're guarding this as a potential crime scene and the actual bridge shutdown we're actually assisting in blocking vehicle, bike and pedestrian traffic. It will be a few days at the very least; they will know more once they do a proper assessment of the bridge."

As of late Sunday afternoon, firefighters were still chasing flames underneath the decking.

If this isn't a good enough reason to get the bridge replaced then I have no idea what is.

lmao?

oh great, more cars to the port mann bridge.

at least they can fix the potholes now

YES!!! :thumbsup:

Enjoy your commute...

Crazy. 80,000 vehicles on an average weekday! Going to be a traffic nightmare on the other route now~ good thing I dont head in that direction for work :eek:

there goes my plans to go to cypress tomorrow morning

take hwy 1 or hwy 91 then? ha.

i dont think the people that live on the other side of bridge (van,burn,coq) etc. really understand how fucked us surrey/langley people are. it normally takes forever to cross a bridge on a regular day . .. aahh fuck!!!!!

twin the pattullo. . . and twin the alex fraser too.

YES!!! FUCK THAT SHIT BRIDGE TO HELL

id rather get stuck in traffic for 25 hours than to take that stupid bridge

....but... wut if gaylink decides to patch up the pieces burnt with half assed concrete!? (O__O)!!

Hell, just fill in the Fraser River and divert the water south of the border. LOL.


May the bastards who set the bridge on fire burn in hell.

ouch I feel bad for the people taking any bridge from surrey in the morning its gonna be hell. translink is gonna be packed as well. 80000 is alot of vehicles that has to find alterante routes

this is exacly why they should make a law requiring everyone to work an live in the same city. all bridges should be open only for commerical use (semi trucks, couriers etc) mon-fri durring working hours. no commuters.

traffic would be 10x better then what it is now. and a bridge going down would cause min. effect.

That's mental, what the hell was the guy thinking?

lawl

lower mainland needs bridges at are 8 lanes

damn homes... 2 much common sense in 1 day

That is retarded on many levels.

That's nice. How about people going to Canuck games or to the theatre or the ferries or........ shall I continue?

Also, if that were the case, Vancouver would be nothing but high rises 0f 40 plus floors. We live in an area that is surrounded by rivers.

omg this is gona be hell for commuters..

Well, there's like 17 bridges in this town. It's not like we've never been stuck in badass traffic across a bridge before.

It's not like we've never taken the patullo, port mann, alex fraser, lions gate, etc.. before.

Having said that, thank god i don't live out there. I don't know how you ppl deal with traffic day after day after day.. yeesh.

For sure.. Unfortunately, they are not going to rebuild the entire bridge. That bridge is long due for an overhaul.

Your level of intelligence is fuckin amazing. I'm sure you thought long and hard before making your post. Just wondering what you think about flying cars like in the Jetson's. There would be no need for bridges or roads for that matter. Again well done johny!

The timing of this fire couldn't have been any better (honestly). Gregor Robertson and Diane Watts are in Ottawa with a number of capital project proposals for Vancouver and Surrey with the hopes of securing federal funding. With this fire and the ensuing commuter chaos expected in the next few days, the varying degrees of government will finally realize that more bridges are needed.