Great Canadian Bridges - Page 2

MonkeyRonin · #21 Posted **Jan 3, 2009, 10:09 PM**

My national favourites have already been posted, so here are my local choices. We don't really have much in the way of impressive bridges though.

Prince Edward Viaduct

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brilliantboy/

Humber River Bridge

http://www.flickr.com/photos/miwo76/

PhilippeMtl · #22 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 1:07 AM**

Pont de Quebec by me

Jacques Cartier by me

Metro-One · #23 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 1:55 AM**

I love the Alex Fraser bridge, it has a true Japanese feel (anyone who has been to Japan and the Alex Fraser will understand). When it opened it had the longest suspended span in the world, i think now it is 17th though, but still #1 on its opening day!

The vancouver area is going to have an amazing amount of sizable suspension/cable stayed bridges.

the Lions gate Bridge - Open
the Alex Fraser Bridge - Open
the Expo Line Skytrain Bridge - Open
the Canada Line Bridge - Finished, opens 2009
the Golden Ears Bridge - U/C, opens 2009
the Pitt River Bridge - U/C, opens 2009
the Coast Meridian Viaduct - U/C, opens 2010
the new Port Mann Bridge - Proposed, opens 2013/2014 (Could become the largest of all the cable bridges, including the Alex Fraser)

There is also a movement that has began on replacing the Patella Bridge and it is very likely it could be cable stayed as well.

It is a great time to be in Metro-Vancouver right now if you love major bridge projects.

srperrycgy · #24 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 2:05 AM**

Patella = Pattullo

Metro-One · #25 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 2:08 AM**

I can never spell it right! I even googled "Patella" and i got many hits about the "patella" bridge in Metro-Vancouver and google did not supply a "did you mean" function. I hate that name!

But my point remains, Vancouver is going to have a crap load of cable stayed bridges (3 of them open this year!)

SteelTown · #26 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 2:10 AM**

There's a new gateway bridge under construction in Hamilton, Van Wagner Pedestrian Bridge. It should be a new landmark bridge once it's completed. It'll be built over the busy QEW.

Distill3d · #27 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 2:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

But my point remains, Vancouver is going to have a crap load of cable stayed bridges (3 of them open this year!)

ugh i know. one of two of them is cool, three is boarding on too many, but almost every major bridge in this region is a cable stay. why can't we build more like the Port Mann, Iron Workers, or even Burrard Street?

Metro-One · #28 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 2:32 AM**

I feel the opposite, i love the fact they are all cable stayed, if you have ever been to Japan it is amazing to look up a river and see numerous cable stayed bridges, for they are everywhere there. Vancouver will feel even a little more like an Asian city with all these new cable bridge additions

In my opinion they are by far the most elegant bridge structure, and they are not all the same, in fact for the most part all the new bridges are different variations of cable stayed bridges. None of them are actually identical to another.

The Chemist · #29 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 3:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d

ugh i know. one of two of them is cool, three is boarding on too many, but almost every major bridge in this region is a cable stay. why can't we build more like the Port Mann, Iron Workers, or even Burrard Street?

Shanghai's got 3 cable-stays with a fourth under construction, so Vancouver is getting more like an Asian city with respect to bridge types.

Besides, if they're big and impressive, who cares what type of bridge they are?

Cable-stayed bridges do seem to be the 'in' thing as far as global bridge construction goes lately - they're building a lot of them everywhere.

Dmajackson · #30 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 3:55 AM**

Since noboby else has mentioned it;

The Confederation Bridge is a 11km long two lane bridge connecting Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick over the Northumberland Strait. It is the world's longest bridge over ice covered waters.

It is by far my favorite Canadian Bridge.

Source

craneSpotter · #31 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 5:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Distill3d

ugh i know. one of two of them is cool, three is boarding on too many, but almost every major bridge in this region is a cable stay. why can't we build more like the Port Mann, Iron Workers, or even Burrard Street?

I believe in many cases cable stayed bridges are cheaper to build; they use less construction materials (lighter) and accordingly can be built within tighter timeframes - with all things being being equal.

Plus, I think most would agree they are more modern looking, and just a little more sexy

Imagine the cost of materials and labour to put up a heavy steel arch like the Port Mann today!

flar · #32 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 6:01 AM**

The Bluewater Bridge (Sarnia, Ontario/Port Huron, Michigan)

The Ambassador Bridge (Windsor/Detroit)

mmmatt · #33 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 7:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bedford_DJ

Since noboby else has mentioned it;

The Confederation Bridge is a 11km long two lane bridge connecting Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick over the Northumberland Strait. It is the world's longest bridge over ice covered waters.

It is by far my favorite Canadian Bridge.

Source

Agreed...its massive and amazing, plus it turned at 45 min trip into a 10 min one.

credit: Phillip Chitwood on flickr

credit: daniel.berlin on flickr

credit: i 2 i on flickr

credit: Rexton on flickr

Wooster · #34 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 7:52 AM**

On the topic of bridges, Santiago Calatrava was just signed on to design a pedestrian bridge across in Calgary across the Bow river at the western tip of Prince's Island downtown. The design will be done this year and construction is starting next year. It's a highly controversial project in Calgary because of the perceived high cost of getting one designed by Calatrava, but is going ahead nonetheless.

A second new ped bridge spanning the Bow further east connecting the East Village and Bridgeland communities will go to an open competition - being managed by the development corporation created by the City to redevelop the East Village through a Tax Increment Financing program.

So some interesting bridge news I guess to watch for coming out of Calgary and some potential candidates for some of the nicest bridges in Canada.

patboy · #35 Posted **Jan 4, 2009, 11:10 PM**

Pont Pierre-Laporte and Pont de Québec across the St-Laurent river. Pont de Québec is the biggest cantilever bridge in the world; Total length : 987 meters, opening date : december 3, 1919.

Picture from : polo200200
http://www.flickr.com/photos/polo200/