Alex Fraser Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alex Fraser Bridge |
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Alex Fraser Bridge
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| Coordinates | 49°09′35″N 122°56′34″W / 49.1598°N 122.9428°W |
| Carries | Seven lanes of British Columbia Highway 91, pedestrians and bicycles |
| Crosses | South Arm Fraser River |
| Locale | Delta, BC |
| Maintained by | British Columbia Ministry of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | cable-stayed bridge |
| Material | Steel & Reinforced concrete |
| Total length | 2,525 m (8,284 ft) |
| Width | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Height | 154 m (505 ft) |
| Longest span | 465 m (1,526 ft) |
| Clearance below | 57 m (187 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | Buckland & Taylor |
| Construction begin | 1983 |
| Construction cost | $58 million |
| Opened | September 22, 1986 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 119,000 |
| References | |
| structurae.de | |
The Alex Fraser Bridge is a very important bridge in British Columbia, Canada. It crosses the Fraser River and connects the cities of Richmond, British Columbia and New Westminster, British Columbia. This bridge is a special type called a cable-stayed bridge. This means its main deck is held up by strong cables that connect directly to tall towers.
The bridge helps thousands of cars, trucks, and buses cross the river every day. It carries British Columbia Highway 91. It also has paths for people who want to walk or ride their bikes.
About the Alex Fraser Bridge
The Alex Fraser Bridge is known for its unique design. It is a cable-stayed bridge, which means it uses many strong cables. These cables stretch from tall towers down to the bridge deck. This design helps the bridge span a long distance without needing many supports from below.
The bridge is made from strong materials like steel and reinforced concrete. It was designed by Buckland & Taylor. Construction started in 1983 and the bridge officially opened on September 22, 1986. It cost about $58 million to build.
Bridge Size and Features
The Alex Fraser Bridge is quite large. Its main part, called the mainspan, is 465 meters (about 1,526 feet) long. The total length of the bridge is 2,525 meters (about 8,284 feet). That's more than two and a half kilometers!
The bridge is 32 meters (about 105 feet) wide. Its towers stand 154 meters (about 505 feet) tall. This height allows large ships to pass underneath, as there is 57 meters (about 187 feet) of space below the bridge.
Helping Traffic Flow
The Alex Fraser Bridge was originally built with six lanes for vehicles. To help with traffic, especially during busy times like morning and afternoon rush hour, an extra lane was added. This is called a counterflow lane.
A counterflow lane can change direction depending on traffic needs. For example, in the morning, it might carry traffic going into the city. In the afternoon, it might switch to carry traffic leaving the city. This helps keep traffic moving smoothly and reduces delays for the many cars that use the bridge daily. About 119,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day.
