TransLink is planning a new bridge across the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver | Daily Hive

TransLink is planning to replace a 1910-built bridge across the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver

Westham Island Bridge. (Jay Howard/Shutterstock)

Metro Vancouver’s public transit authority is in the early stages of planning a new replacement crossing of the lesser-known Westham Island Bridge in Delta.

The 1910-built bridge spans the south arm of the Fraser River between Ladner and Westham Island, which primarily sees farmland uses and has protected naturalized areas.

This is one of four vehicle bridges owned and operated by TransLink, and also the narrowest in width by far.

It is a single-lane, wood-deck truss bridge spanning a length of 325 metres and a height of 4.4 metres above the river. A steel swing span in the middle of the bridge opens up as much as eight times a day to enable marine traffic to pass through, including fishing boats and sometimes even houseboats.

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The historic crossing is now deteriorating at an accelerated rate.

Over the past decade, TransLink has made continuous investments to maintain and rehabilitate the bridge’s aging components and structure. Starting in early 2026, as the latest interim measure to extend its lifespan, there will also be some repairs to the structure, scour protection, and swing span, as well as the timber piers, planks, and decking.

Location of Westham Island Bridge. (Google Maps)

Westham Island Bridge. (Josef Hanus/Shutterstock)

Westham Island Bridge. (Google Maps)

However, ongoing maintenance to keep the bridge safe and its swing-span mechanism operational can only go so far for a wooden structure that was originally designed to last 60 years, but is now 115 years old.

In addition to its age, the bridge has low clearances, cannot support the weight of semi-trucks needed to better serve the island’s farm businesses, lacks pedestrian and cycling pathways, and has a swing-span mechanism that can freeze and seize during sub-zero temperatures, requiring marine traffic to take lengthy detours until temperatures warm up.

This past summer, TransLink conducted a bidding process seeking a design and engineering team to create the concept of a new replacement bridge. The public transit authority received nine proposals, with the contract award expected to take place before the end of 2025.

Westham Island Bridge. (Sen Yang/Shutterstock)

Westham Island Bridge. (Barrie Barrington/Shutterstock)

The selected consultant will work with TransLink and the City of Delta on the new crossing’s concept design, and perform technical investigations at the location and public consultation. TransLink has set aside $2 million for the existing bridge’s rehabilitation work in 2026 and $3 million for the concept design and planning process for a new bridge. No timeline and construction cost estimate has been established for building the new crossing.

Prior to the construction of this bridge over a century ago, Westham Island was linked to the mainland by a ferry that first began operating in the area in the 1800s. It has also been featured in film and television productions over the years.

Westham Island Bridge. (Stefan Malloch/Shutterstock)

In addition to the various SkyTrain bridges that cross the river, TransLink also owns and operates the Knight Street Bridge, the Golden Ears Bridge, and the original Pattullo Bridge. Once the old Pattullo Bridge is decommissioned in early 2026 — following the full opening of the new replacement bridge to vehicle traffic — TransLink will have one fewer major crossing to manage, as the new replacement bridge will be owned and operated by the provincial government. Moving forward, this will provide TransLink with some major annual operating and maintenance cost savings.

The provincial government and Vancouver Airport Authority are also in the early stages of considering building a new replacement for the aging Moray Bridge, which is a critically important bridge with two vehicle lanes of eastbound-only traffic. This swing bridge directly connects Richmond’s main island to the airport’s Sea Island, but it also plays a critical function in linking Vancouver with areas south of the Fraser via the Arthur Laing Bridge.

The existing Moray Bridge looking west towards Vancouver International Airport. (Google Maps)

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