Office of the Premier
COQUITLAM - At a celebration to mark 50-per-cent completion of Port Mann/Highway 1 construction, Premier Christy Clark acknowledged workers for their contributions to the project, which when complete, will improve safety and reliability, save travel time and improve the movement of goods for trade to the Asia Pacific.
"Not only are these 1,500 workers helping to build our economy, they are helping to improve the lives of British Columbians," said Premier Clark. "Once complete, commuters will save an hour a day in travel time. That's one more hour a day that people can spend with their families instead of stuck in traffic."
The Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project will create 8,000 jobs and is a key component of the provincial Gateway Program to improve the movement of people, goods and transit throughout the Lower Mainland. Infrastructure projects of this calibre provide the support that will boost domestic, cross-border and global export opportunities, including to the Asia Pacific. Through this type of investment the province is accelerating job creation and growing revenues to support BC families.
"From the iconic design of the new bridge, to the hours of traffic management to ensure that the highway remains open for use during construction, to keeping people informed about what's happening, work has proceeded safely, with minimal disruption," said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom. "I also want to thank bridge users and highway neighbours for their patience and support. I urge everyone to continue to drive safely and watch for workers and slower moving construction vehicles. Safety is our highest priority as we move to complete the project as quickly as possible."
The new Port Mann Bridge will open with eight lanes in winter 2012/13. When the full 10 lanes are complete, the 850-metre main span cable-stay structure will be the widest in North America and also one of the longest. The bridge will also provide for the first bus service across the Port Mann Bridge in over 20 years and will allow for expanded transportation options in the region including carpooling and cycling.
BACKGROUNDER
Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project
Announced in 2006, the Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project includes construction of a new 10-lane Port Mann Bridge, widening the highway, upgrading interchanges and improving access and safety on Highway 1. The project spans a distance of approximately 37 kilometres from the McGill Street Interchange in Vancouver to 216th Street in Langley. In total, more than 30 interchanges and overpasses will be replaced, upgraded or added as part of the project.
In keeping with the Provincial Transit Plan and commitment to alternative transportation, the project includes congestion-reduction measures such as high occupancy vehicle lanes, transit and commercial vehicle priority measures and improvements to the cycling network. The project will also provide for a Highway 1 RapidBus with service between a new Park and Ride in Langley and Lougheed SkyTrain station in Burnaby in less than 25 minutes. This will be the first reliable transit over the Port Mann Bridge in more than 20 years.
Key Facts: New Port Mann Bridge
- Total length: 2,020 metres.
- Number of lanes: 10 (5 in each direction).
- Number of cables: 288.
- Total width: 65 metres.
- 5-metre wide multi-user path, with 3 metres of clearance for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Tower height: 160 metres, including 42 metres of navigational clearance.
The new bridge will have three main components:
- A cable-stayed main bridge (between the end of the cables) across the Fraser River will be 850 meters long (470 metres long between the two towers).
- A south approach (Surrey side), which will be 350 meters long.
- A north approach (Coquitlam side), which will be 820 meters long.
A Snapshot of Resources Needed to Complete the Project:
- Number of pre-cast segments in the approach spans: 1,158.
- Tonnes of asphalt used for new bridge deck: 25,000.
- Number of steel composite segments in the cable-stay span: 116.
- Kilometres of cable used : 45.
- Amount of concrete used: 157,000 m3.
- Support Structures: 16 kilometres of pile and 5 kilometres of drilled shafts.
- Additional materials required: 28,000 tonnes of rebar and 13,000 tonnes of structural steel.
- Employment: 8,000 person years.
Contacts:
Chris Olsen
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 220-1640
Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 508-5506
Max Logan
Transportation Investment Corporation
778 783-1218
