Alex Fraser Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Alex Fraser Bridge is a cable-stayed
bridge
over the Fraser River
and connects Richmond
and New Westminster with North Delta
in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia
. The bridge is named for Alex Fraser
, a former B.C. Minister of Transportation who died of throat cancer.
The bridge was the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world when it opened on September 22, 1986 and was the longest in North America until the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge opened in 2005. As of 2009 it is the 32nd longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, and second longest in North America. It is 930m long with a main span of 465m. The towers are 154m tall. It consists of six lanes, three in each direction and has a maximum speed limit of 90 km per hour. Upon opening in 1986, only four of the six available lanes were open - with the remaining two lanes reserved for cyclists & pedestrians. All six lanes opened in 1987 after traffic demand justified the need.
The bridge's southern end is in North Delta and its northern end is on Delta
's Annacis Island
. It forms Fraser River, such as Delta, Blain Washington and White Rock
. The connections on the northern end lead into the cities of New Westminster, Richmond, Burnaby and on into Vancouver
itself. It is a major artery in the Lower Mainland
of British Columbia.
The bridge was constructed for the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and was designed by Buckland & Taylor.
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
over the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
and connects Richmond
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
and New Westminster with North Delta
North Delta, British Columbia
North Delta is a largely middle-class bedroom community situated in the Lower Mainland, in British Columbia, Canada. The community is the most populous of the three communities that make up the Corporation of Delta. North Delta is home to numerous parks and recreational opportunities...
in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The bridge is named for Alex Fraser
Alex Fraser (politician)
The Hon. Alexander Vaughan Fraser was a Canadian politician. Fraser began his career as a businessman in the central British Columbia town of Quesnel, located in the Cariboo region....
, a former B.C. Minister of Transportation who died of throat cancer.
The bridge was the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world when it opened on September 22, 1986 and was the longest in North America until the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge opened in 2005. As of 2009 it is the 32nd longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, and second longest in North America. It is 930m long with a main span of 465m. The towers are 154m tall. It consists of six lanes, three in each direction and has a maximum speed limit of 90 km per hour. Upon opening in 1986, only four of the six available lanes were open - with the remaining two lanes reserved for cyclists & pedestrians. All six lanes opened in 1987 after traffic demand justified the need.
The bridge's southern end is in North Delta and its northern end is on Delta
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
's Annacis Island
Annacis Island
Annacis Island is an island located in the South Arm of the Fraser River in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. The island is now mostly industrial, and it contains one of the Metro Vancouver's secondary wastewater treatment plants...
. It forms Fraser River, such as Delta, Blain Washington and White Rock
White Rock, British Columbia
White Rock is a city in British Columbia, Canada, that lies within the Metro Vancouver regional district. It borders Semiahmoo Bay and is surrounded on three sides by the City of Surrey, British Columbia. To the south lies the Semiahmoo First Nation, which is within the city limits of Surrey...
. The connections on the northern end lead into the cities of New Westminster, Richmond, Burnaby and on into Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
itself. It is a major artery in the Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
of British Columbia.
The bridge was constructed for the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and was designed by Buckland & Taylor.
See also
External links
- Buckland & Taylor, Ltd., design engineer for the bridge