Alex Fraser Bridge
| Client: | Ministry of Transportation & Highways, British Columbia |
| Location: | New Westminster, British Columbia |
| Completion Date: | 1986 |
| Project Highlights: | First composite steel-precast concrete superstructure for cable-stayed bridge – Engineered “sand islands” to absorb ship impact energy and protect bridge |
This award-winning, six-lane, 830 m long cable-stayed crossing of the Fraser River was completed in 1986 after 30 months of construction. Use of repetitive precast concrete deck modules resulted in capital costs 20% lower than earlier North American cable-stayed bridges. Extensive wind tunnel testing confirmed the aerodynamic viability of the economical steel plate girder. Earthquake design was refined using dynamic interaction computer analyses while sand islands, developed to protect the piers from ship impact, were modelled in a hydraulic laboratory. CBA Engineering (now Klohn Crippen Berger), in joint venture with Buckland & Taylor, provided complete engineering, model testing, construction inspection and contract administration services.
Services:
- Pre-feasibility studies & pre-engineering
- Contract administration
- Detailed design
- Model testing
- Construction inspection