Pattullo Bridge commuters will no longer have to find alternative routes when all four lanes of the bridge reopen Monday, a month ahead of schedule.

Construction on the bridge began at the end of April and was expected to continue to early October. Despite wet weather in June and July, crews were able to complete work early by scheduling additional overnight and weekend closures.

TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond told Gloria Macarenko, host of CBC's On The Coast, construction was essential to extend the life span of the 79-year-old bridge.

Given the age of the bridge, he said, contractors were fortunate not to discover anything unexpected when they lifted the old concrete.

Desmond thanked motorists for their patience, given the 15 to 25 minute delays averaged during rush hour. The bridge has been operating two lanes since construction began, with sometimes full closure overnight and during weekends.

Ahead of the reopening on Monday, the bridge will be closed three more times, including:

8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 to 5 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25

8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 to 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26

8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29 (full weekend closure)

Crews will continue rehabilitation work on the bridge deck through the fall, but this work will not require daytime bridge closures after Monday.

However, for safety reasons, the bridge will return to the regular schedule of one lane open in each direction overnight.

Design work on a new bridge continues as Translink conducts public consultations in the cities of Surrey and New Westminster.

According to Desmond, TransLink is working with federal, provincial and regional governments, "to cobble together a financial plan to make it all work."

The Pattullo Bridge is scheduled to be replaced by 2023.

With files from On The Coast