Posted Dec 3, 2025, 10:58 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: East Vancouver (No longer across the ocean!)
Posts: 3,615
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https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/westham-...acement-crossing-planning-transink-delta
Quote:
TransLink is planning to replace a 1910-built bridge across the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver’s public transit authority is in the early stages of planning a new replacement crossing of the lesser-known Westham Island Bridge in Delta.
The 1910-built bridge spans the south arm of the Fraser River between Ladner and Westham Island, which primarily sees farmland uses and has protected naturalized areas.
This is one of four vehicle bridges owned and operated by TransLink, and also the narrowest in width by far.
It is a single-lane, wood-deck truss bridge spanning a length of 325 metres and a height of 4.4 metres above the river. A steel swing span in the middle of the bridge opens up as much as eight times a day to enable marine traffic to pass through, including fishing boats and sometimes even houseboats.
The historic crossing is now deteriorating at an accelerated rate.
Over the past decade, TransLink has made continuous investments to maintain and rehabilitate the bridge’s aging components and structure. Starting in early 2026, as the latest interim measure to extend its lifespan, there will also be some repairs to the structure, scour protection, and swing span, as well as the timber piers, planks, and decking.
However, ongoing maintenance to keep the bridge safe and its swing-span mechanism operational can only go so far for a wooden structure that was originally designed to last 60 years, but is now 115 years old.
In addition to its age, the bridge has low clearances, cannot support the weight of semi-trucks needed to better serve the island’s farm businesses, lacks pedestrian and cycling pathways, and has a swing-span mechanism that can freeze and seize during sub-zero temperatures, requiring marine traffic to take lengthy detours until temperatures warm up.
This past summer, TransLink conducted a bidding process seeking a design and engineering team to create the concept of a new replacement bridge. The public transit authority received nine proposals, with the contract award expected to take place before the end of 2025.
The selected consultant will work with TransLink and the City of Delta on the new crossing’s concept design, and perform technical investigations at the location and public consultation. TransLink has set aside $2 million for the existing bridge’s rehabilitation work in 2026 and $3 million for the concept design and planning process for a new bridge. No timeline and construction cost estimate has been established for building the new crossing.
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I wasn't aware that the Westham Island Bridge was under Translink's jurisdiction. Seems odd, the only other bridges Translink maintains are intercity, non-highway bridges. I would have thought the Westham Island Bridge would be Delta's problem to deal with.
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