Skybridge (TransLink) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SkyBridge |
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| Coordinates | 49°12′20″N 122°53′48″W / 49.20556°N 122.89667°W |
| Carries | Two tracks of the Expo Line and a maintenance track |
| Crosses | Fraser River |
| Locale | New Westminster Surrey |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 616 metres (2,021 ft) |
| Height | 123 metres (404 ft) |
| Longest span | 340 metres (1,115 ft) |
| Clearance below | 45 metres (148 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | March 16, 1990 |
The SkyBridge is a special kind of bridge in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It's called a cable-stayed bridge because it uses strong cables to hold up its main part. Built from 1987 to 1989, this bridge goes over the Fraser River. It connects the cities of New Westminster and Surrey. The SkyBridge started carrying passengers on March 16, 1990. It was part of a big expansion for the SkyTrain system.
Building the SkyBridge
Building the SkyBridge started on October 28, 1987. The part of the bridge going towards Surrey was finished first. The New Westminster side was completed on March 19, 1990.
The bridge was built by Hyundai Engineering & Construction and a company from Chilliwack. It cost about $28 million Canadian dollars at that time.
What the SkyBridge Carries
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The SkyBridge is unique because it does not carry cars. Unlike the nearby Pattullo Bridge, the SkyBridge is only for trains. It has two tracks for TransLink's SkyTrain. These trains travel between King George station in Surrey and Waterfront station in Downtown Vancouver.
There is also a third set of rails in the middle of the bridge. These rails are not connected to the SkyTrain tracks. They are used by maintenance crews. These crews use the rails to move equipment back and forth on the bridge.
Bridge Features
The SkyBridge has two tall towers. Each tower is about 123 meters (404 feet) high. The bridge carries trains about 45 meters (148 feet) above the Fraser River.
The main part of the bridge, called the main span, is 340 meters (1,115 feet) long. The total length of the entire bridge is 616 meters (2,021 feet). When it opened in 1990, the SkyBridge was the longest cable-supported bridge in the world that was only for trains. It held this record until 2019. In 2019, the Egongyan Rail Transit Bridge became the new record holder.
