The Livable Blog

As the 'Greenest Games' continue, despite the lack of snow, work continues on Canada's widest freeway bridge. Maybe that is the green they mean, $1.2 billion for the bridge alone. Not to mention all the GM cars to drive on it, and the Petro Canada gas from the tar sands . . .

But don't worry, we have 20 hydrogen powered buses in Whistler now.

February 19, 2010

Photo BRADLEY FEHR

The pylons to support the new Port Mann Bridge are taking shape on the east side of the crossing.

New Port Mann Bridge to be widest in Canada

JEAN SORENSEN - Journal of Commerce

The new $1.2 billion, 10-lane Port Mann toll bridge is intended to become a landmark. It was designed by U.S.-based T.Y. Lin International (TYLI) of San Francisco.

“The new bridge will be an iconic structure – it will be the widest bridge in Canada, and the two pylons (towers) will rise approximately 110 metres above the bridge deck, providing some 40 meters navigation clearance,” said Stephen N. Docherty, the bridge section manager for Transportation Investment Corp. (TIC), a crown corporation.

The new bridge over the Fraser River will be about two kilometres in overall length.

[snip]

When a P3 deal fell through with the MacQuarie Group (part of the Connect BC Development Group), the government turned to a design-build, fixed-price contract with joint-venture partners Peter Kiewit Sons Co. and Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited for the Port Mann and Highway 1 project. The total project cost is $2.4 billion.

Design details and construction engineering is by International Bridge Technologies, Inc. (IBT) based in San Diego, but with a Coquitlam office.

IBT was previously involved with the Pitt River Bridge and the Coast Meridian Overpass.

[snip]

The 65-metre (213-ft) wide superstructure consists of two five-lane decks, separated by a 10-metre (32-ft) median, where the central pylons are located.

“It will be a real highlight to the city,” said Frank Margitan, vice-president of Peter Kiewit Sons Co. (Western Canada) speaking recently to the B.C. Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association.

[snip]

Margitan said that when the design came forward for the single tower cable stayed bridge, his firm questioned the design choice. A second opinion was obtained to verify structural integrity, he said, because his company guaranteed the project.

Margitan said that using the single pylon design (and pier combination), was also unique to Canada, although another bridge like it existed in China.

[snip]

The new bridge will require 12,900 TNE of structural steel, 151,000 cubic metres of concrete and 279 piles and 96 caissons. Geotechnical services were supplied by Shannon & Wilson Inc. based in Seattle and environmental engineering by AMEC, which has offices in B.C.

[snip]

full text at http://www.joconl.com/article/id37641