Is Pattullo toll bridge idea a broken promise?

The idea of replacing the aging Pattullo Bridge -- linking Surrey and New Westminster -- is gaining widespread support from government officials in B.C. and even members of the provincial opposition.

But the suggestion that it should be a toll bridge isn't.

On Thursday, The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (Translink) gave its staff the green light to begin preliminary work toward building a new Pattullo Bridge that will be financed by tolls.

"It would cost as much to rehabilitate the Pattullo to provide three lanes for 50 years as it would to add three lanes on a new bridge that will last 100 years. So our direction will be to build an entirely new bridge and tear the old one down," Translink Chief Executive Officer Tom Prendergast said.

However, the idea of having drivers pay a toll to cross the new bridge is already proving controversial.

"It's a matter of priorities," said B.C. New Democratic Party MLA Harry Bains, who thinks the provincial government should pick up the tab.

"Pattullo was promoted as a free alternate to the tolled Port Mann bridge. Now for this government to allow tolls on this bridge, that is a seriously broken promise," he said.

But when speaking to CTV by phone, B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon disagreed..

"The province has never said that. How could we say that? It's not our bridge."

Falcon insists the bridge is Translink's responsibility.

"If there's any technical advice or expertise we can give Translink, then we'll do that. But I'm certainly not going to promise funds to a project that is out of the province's jurisdiction," he said.

So if tolls are the future, how much will drivers pay?

On the new Golden Ears Bridge the toll will range from $2 and 85-cents, to almost $10, depending on vehicle size.

And it is estimated that the toll on a newly twinned Portman Bridge will run about three bucks. Local politicians say now is the time to re-think how commuers pay for this.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts agrees, saying Ottawa and Victoria will have to help pay.

"There's also the question of what will happen on the Alex Fraser, if drivers use it to avoid tolls on both the Port Mann and the Pattullo's replacement. Translink says more studies are needed to determine what the impact may be."

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Maria Weisgarber.