PEOPLE travelling under the new Highway 17-Old Yale Road overpass in Surrey can now see the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project’s first Indigenous art installation.
Traffic moved onto the new overpass in early June 2025 as part of the larger project to replace the aging Pattullo Bridge. Indigenous art is being integrated onto and around the new infrastructure in recognition of First Nations’ deep historical and current connections to the area.
The artwork, a design embossed into the concrete retaining wall on the northeast side of the overpass, was created by Kwantlen First Nation artist q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ, Phyllis Atkins. The design depicts sturgeon and eulachon, two species of fish in the Fraser River of great significance to First Nations.
The project overlaps with the boundaries of two former reserves: Musqueam Indian Reserve No. 1 and Kwantlen Indian Reserve No. 8. Both were located in qiqéyt, an important village site for First Nations within the project area.
A First Nations cultural recognition program is using artwork, storytelling, language and signage as an opportunity for education, acknowledgment and celebration of the culture, history and continued stewardship of the project area’s lands and waters.
As part of the cultural recognition program, Musqueam Indian Band and Kwantlen First Nation are bestowing the people of British Columbia a name for the new bridge in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language. More details about the name will be shared in the coming months.
First Nations cultural recognition:
* The Fraser River and its shorelines have been actively used by First Nations since time immemorial for fishing, harvesting and other important activities.
* First Nations artists are exploring themes of kinship-based trade, transportation and inter-generational connection through their artwork.
* These themes will feature strongly in artwork visible on the new bridge structure and approaches in New Westminster and Surrey.
* The work of Kwantlen artist q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ, Phyllis Atkins is inspired by her life-long connection to the stɑl’əw̓ (Fraser River).
* The artwork is dedicated to her friend, Garrett Martindale, who worked with q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ on white sturgeon acoustic telemetry studies.
Highway 17-Old Yale Road overpass and Bridge Road in Surrey:
* Traffic fully shifted onto the new Highway 17 overpass on June 2, 2025, allowing traffic to continue uninterrupted above Old Yale Road.
* The overpass will also accommodate a direct off-ramp from the new bridge to westbound Highway 17.
* Construction of the new off-ramp is ongoing.
* Bridge Road will become a two-way road with a new multi-use path connecting to the bridge.
* The embossed design is visible from Old Yale Road and Bridge Road.
Learn More:
To learn more about Pattullo Bridge replacement First Nations cultural recognition program, visit: https://www.
To learn more about Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project, visit: https://www.
