Construction is shutting down the busy Pattullo Bridge all weekend, and that’s just the beginning of months of planned traffic disruptions.

Deck rehabilitation work to keep the crossing safe began Friday night, forcing a full bridge closure that will last until 5 a.m. Monday. 

And from then until the end of September, the Pattullo will be limited to one open lane in each direction as crews complete the project. During that time, the bridge will also be completely closed two nights a week and for one full weekend a month. 

Roughly 80,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day, and TransLink said the rehabilitation work is likely to cause significant delays for commuters. 

“There could be delays of up to 40 minutes for cars that are travelling over or around the Pattullo Bridge, depending on the time of day, depending on where they are going to and coming from,” spokeswoman Jennifer Morland said.

“We know that it’s going to be a challenging five months for commuters and people who live by the bridge, so we just want to thank everyone for their patience while we complete this project.” 

TransLink recommends drivers consider alternative routes, such as the tolled Port Mann Bridge, or different ways to commute, such as public transit, carpooling or cycling. 

“SkyTrain is not going to be impacted by traffic so we would definitely encourage people to give that a shot,” Morland said. 

“We have additional park-and-ride locations that have been identified to help people to connect.”

New service hours have been added to several bus routes, including the 101, 104, 128, 155, 340, 388 and the 410, and both cyclists and pedestrians will also be able to continue using the bridge even when it’s closed to traffic. 

For information on the project and help with travel planning, visit the Pattullo Bridge rehabilitation website.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Sheila Scott