The recent farewell event was the final opportunity for people to walk across the now-closed Pattullo Bridge one last time.
There is still some ongoing construction on the new Riverview Bridge, like the unfortunate installation of an ugly suicide fence across it.
Thousands of people defied the pouring rain to walk across the bridge one last time.
The 89-years-old bridge is in rough shape.
On south side an off-ramp is waiting for the old bridge to be demolished first.
It is going to be interesting to see the old bridge get demolished this spring.
Few people are still having hopes for the old bridge to be repurposed, but while a cool idea, it is totally nonviable due to the condition of the bridge.
And there you have it. Farewell to the old legend!
I recall driving Patullo bridge twice/day back when I lived in Van and worked in Whalley.
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The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. (Bertrand Russell). Sweet Loretta fart thought she was a cleaner, but she was a frying pan. (John Lennon)
I love this photo (not so much his apparel, but 100% in terms of action)
The rail bridge is staying?
I prefer the steel-supported bridge structures (especially arched trusses, not girders below the deck) over suspension and cable-stayed bridges. They all have their applications, but given a choice I'd pick steel over cables.
I love this photo (not so much his apparel, but 100% in terms of action)
The rail bridge is staying?
I prefer the steel-supported bridge structures (especially arched trusses, not girders below the deck) over suspension and cable-stayed bridges. They all have their applications, but given a choice I'd pick steel over cables.
Yes, the rail bridge is staying. That's the CN/BN/Amtrak mainline out of Vancouver from Pacific Central Station.
I love this photo (not so much his apparel, but 100% in terms of action)
Yeah, it must have been his long-time dream to one day do that.
The rail bridge is actually much older than most people realize. it's crazy it hasn't been replaced, being as central and busy as it is. Then again, this is British Columbia, where infrastructure lags decades behind the need.
Quote:
Construction of the New Westminster Bridge began in August 1902, and the new bridge was formally opened on July 23, 1904.
The juxtaposition of this elegant suspension bridge, Montmorency Falls. Ile d'Orleans and downtown Quebec City sitting on the nearby bluff is truly spectacular.
I wonder when this will actually open? I bet Trump wants the name changed to the Donald J Trump Gordie Howe International Bridge.
I don't mind waiting a few years until his administration is all behind bars before opening this up for trade and travel. Apparently the billionair that owns the Ambassador Bridge is friends with Frump and wanted to block it's construction all together.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is approximately 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) long, featuring the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America at 853 meters (0.53 miles).
220 meters (722 feet) tall DSCF1384 by Matthew Souva, on Flickr
Ambassador in the foreground, Gordie Howe in the background.
Article today in the Globe about Vancouver's Second Narrows rail bridge, owned by CN, which is aging, failing and was permanently stuck in the lowered position for 4 days back in February. The shipment depot for the $32 billion TMX pipeline lies just beyond this bridge, and this 4 day failure and the ensuing delays in rescheduled shipments led to oil shipments being cut in half for the entire month of February.
Knowing the Vancouver region fairly well, these privately-owned rail bridges are ancient bottlenecks that hold up the region's economic competitiveness. There's another swing bridge across the Fraser in New Westminster that also appears to be on its last legs. Ironically, they're surrounded by new, high-level road bridges that are publicly-owned and funded, many of which replaced older road bridges that were, in fact, newer than the existing rail bridges! This just shows the folly of leaving critical infrastructure that is a natural monopoly, like railway lines, in private hands.
Replacing these two rail bridges in Greater Vancouver would be excellent Federal priority infrastructure projects. A high-level bridge may not be possible, given the presence of a rail tunnel on the other side, but a new lift span could be built that is more reliable and probably wider/taller.
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