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B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan boosted his transit promises Friday by saying his government would immediately fund a replacement for the aging Pattullo Bridge.

Photo by JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS

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The funding, which is part of the NDP’s proposed $10 billion capital plan, would mean the bridge is replaced before the second phase of the TransLink Mayors’ Council transit plan, said Horgan.

“The B.C. government has not committed to helping the mayors in this regard, and I will,” he said.

“I’m committed to making sure we end the chaos in traffic in the region by replacing the Pattullo Bridge. The mayors know it needs to get done, Christy Clark has not been at the table. We’re going to make sure that happens, that mayors understand they have a partner when it comes to replacing this critical piece of infrastructure in the Lower Mainland.”

The move means an NDP government would fund 40 per cent of a new Pattullo bidge. A 2014 estimate pegged a replacement bridge between New Westminster and Surrey at more than $1 billion, with half the cost to be covered by tolls. The B.C. Liberal government has, in the past, promised one-third funding for the project but has not attached specific dollar figures.