Jump to content

Port Mann Bridge

Coordinates: 49°13′16″N 122°48′46″W / 49.221031°N 122.812697°W / 49.221031; -122.812697 (Port Mann Bridge)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 70.70.214.110 (talk) at 01:14, 16 January 2012 (→Replacement). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Port Mann Bridge
Coordinates49°13′16″N 122°48′46″W / 49.221031°N 122.812697°W / 49.221031; -122.812697 (Port Mann Bridge)
CarriesFive lanes of British Columbia Highway 1
CrossesFraser River
LocaleCoquitlam
Surrey
Maintained byBritish Columbia Ministry of Transportation
Followed byPort Mann Bridge (second, 2012)
Characteristics
Designarch bridge
Total length2093 m
Longest span603 m
History
DesignerCBA Engineering
Construction start1957
Opened1964
Closed2012 (planned)
Location
Map

The Port Mann Bridge is a steel tied arch bridge that spans the Fraser River connecting Coquitlam to Surrey in British Columbia near Vancouver. The bridge consists of three spans with an orthotropic deck carrying five lanes of Trans-Canada Highway traffic, with approach spans of three steel plate girders and concrete deck. The total length of the Port Mann is 2,093 m (6,867 ft), including approach spans. The main span is: 366 m (1,201 ft) plus the two 110 m (360 ft) spans on either side.[1] Current volume on the bridge is 127,000 trips per day.[2] Approximately eight percent of the traffic on the Port Mann bridge is truck traffic.[3] The bridge is the longest arch bridge in Canada and 15th longest in the world.

History

The Port Mann Bridge opened on June 12, 1964, originally carrying four lanes. At the time of construction, it was the most expensive piece of highway in Canada. The first "civilian" to drive across the bridge was CKNW reporter Marke Raines. He was not authorized to cross, so he drove quickly.[4] In 2001 a HOV lane eastbound was added by moving the centre divider and by cantilevering the bridge deck outwards in conjunction with a seismic upgrade.[5]

Replacement

Port Mann Bridge is located in Vancouver
Port Mann Bridge
class=notpageimage|
Location in Metro Vancouver
File:PMB Rendering.png
A rendering of the new Port Mann Bridge

On January 31, 2006 the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation introduced the Gateway Program highway expansion program as a means to address growing congestion.[6] The project originally envisioned twinning the Port Mann Bridge by building a second bridge adjacent to it[6] but the project has been changed to building a 10-lane replacement bridge, claimed to be the widest in Canada, and demolishing the original bridge.

The PMH1 project adds another HOV lane and provides cycling access. The plan also calls for re-introduced bus service to the Port Mann Bridge for the first time in over 20 years. However, critics claim that the new bridge only delayed the re-introduction of bus service on the bridge. [7] [8] The new bus rapid transit service will be operated within the HOV lanes along Highway 1 from Langley to Burnaby.[9]

The bridge will be tolled, electronically, approximately $3 each way. The estimated cost of construction is $2.46 billion (This also includes the cost of the Highway 1 upgrade, a total of 37 km). The total cost including operation and maintenance is expected to be $3.3 billion. When the new bridge is completed, the existing bridge, which will be more than 45 years old, will be taken down.[10]

The project was intended to be funded by using the Public-private partnership funding format, and Connect B.C. Development Group was chosen as the preferred developer. The Connect B.C. Group includes the Macquarie Group, Transtoll Inc., Peter Kiewit Sons Co. and Flatiron Constructors.[11] Although a memorandum of understanding had been signed by the Province, final terms could not be agreed. Consequently, the Province will be funding the entire cost of replacement.[12]

In total, the new bridge will be 2.02 km long, 65m wide carrying 10 lanes, and have a 42m clearance above high water level (same length and clearance as existing). The towers will be approximately 75m tall above deck level (total height approx 163m from top of footing). The main span (between the towers) will be 470 meters long, which will be the second longest cable-stayed span in the western hemisphere. The main bridge (between the end of the cables) will have a length of 850 meters with two towers and 288 cables. In addition to the 10 traffic lanes at completion the new bridge will be built to accommodate the installation of light rapid transit line underneath the main deck at a future date.[10] At 65 meters wide, the new Port Mann Bridge will hold the title of being the widest long span bridge of any type in the world.[13] The current record is held by the Sydney Harbour bridge at 49 meters wide.[14]


Opposition to Original Twinning Plan

A number of groups have lobbied to improve public transit rather than build a new bridge. Burnaby city council, Vancouver city council and directors of the GVRD (now Metro Vancouver) have passed resolutions opposing the Port Mann/Highway 1 expansion.[15][16]Opponents to the expansion include local environmental groups, some urban planners,[17] and the Sightline Institute which is based in Washington State.[18]

Opponents argue that increasing the highway capacity will increase greenhouse gas emissions and only relieve congestion for a few years before increased traffic congests the area again, [19] and would encourage suburban sprawl. The Livable Region Coalition has urged the Minister of Transportation, Kevin Falcon, to consider rapid transit lines and improved bus routes instead of building the new bridge.[20]

The David Suzuki Foundation claims the plan violates the goals of Metro Vancouver's Livable Region Strategic Plan.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "PORT MANN BRIDGE". Buckland & Taylor Ltd. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
  2. ^ "Gateway Program Definition Report" (PDF). Ministry of Transportation of British Columbia. January 31, 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  3. ^ "Travel Characteristics of Traffic on the Highway 1 Corridor" (PDF). Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority. July 2, 2004. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  4. ^ Davis, Chuck. "1964 Chronology". The History of Metropolitan Vancouver. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
  5. ^ http://www.kwhconstructors.com/brochures/KWH%20-%20Port%20Mann%20Bridge%20Widening%20-%20Construction%20-%202000.pdf
  6. ^ a b "Gateway Program Definition Report" (PDF). Ministry of Transportation of British Columbia. January 31, 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  7. ^ Doherty, Eric. "Taken for a Ride: Technical and Media Manipulation in the Gateway Program's response to Transportation for a Sustainable Region: Transit or Freeway Expansion" (PDF). Livable Region Coalition. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  8. ^ Gillis, Damien. "Rapid Bus on Port Mann Bridge Now". Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Port Mann Bridge to have high speed bus service". CBC. 2007-10-05. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  10. ^ a b "Single 10-lane bridge to replace Port Mann". CBC. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  11. ^ Agreement in Principle Reached for Port Mann Project - Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
  12. ^ "Province to foot entire cost of new Port Mann Bridge". CBC. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  13. ^ "Construction Update: Building the new Port Mann Bridge" (PDF). Ministry of Transportation of British Columbia. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  14. ^ Archived 2006-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Burnaby Public Consultation on Provincial Gateway Program" (PDF). City of Burnaby. Retrieved 2007-02-11. [dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Standing Committee Minutes" (PDF). City of Vancouver. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  17. ^ Ward, Doug (June 20, 2006). "Planners oppose Gateway Program". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  18. ^ "B.C. gets top marks". North Shore Outlook. June 14, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
  19. ^ "Gateway project will fail, planning prof warns". Steven Rees. 2004. Retrieved 2007-06-15. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  20. ^ "Questions about the B.C. Government's Port Mann and Highway 1 proposal for the Vancouver Region" (PDF). The Livable Region Coalition. 2004. Retrieved 2007-02-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  21. ^ "Proposed twinning of the Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 expansion" (PDF). David Suzuki Foundation. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Port_Mann_Bridge&oldid=471597757"