Port Mann Bridge

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.

Port Mann Bridge

Carries                                             Five lanes of British Columbia Highway 1

Crosses                                            Fraser River

Locale                                              Coquitlam Surrey

Designer                                          CBA Engineering

Design                                             Arch bridge

Longest span                                   602 m

Total length                                     2095 m

Beginning date of construction      1957

Opening date                                  1964 Followed by Port Mann Bridge (second, 2012)

Destruction date                            2012

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. In 2001 a HOV lane eastbound was added by moving the centre divider by cantilevering the bridge deck outwards.