Bridges and Tunnels - Photos and Discussion

[Low Light Mike]

For the transportation/architecture/history fans of bridges:

What are some of your favourite bridges (local or distant), and why?

Here are some of mine:

- old Alexandria bridge on Fraser, near Yale. This is the old one that you can't see from the highway, but need to hike down a short trail from a Provincial rest-stop to see. You can walk across it as part of a park trail.

- old bridge across Fraser at Lillooet. You can still walk across this bridge, and the local 1st Nations fish from near its supports. Plus it was replaced in the early 1980's by a new bridge called "Bridge of the 23 Camels", and how cool is that (Yes, I know the history re the unique name).

- Sheep Creek bridge on the Fraser, west of Williams Lake, on Hwy 20. There's a cool name, a significant location (the east edge of the Chilcotin plateau), and on a cowboy-country highway.

- Park Bridge, on the Kicking Horse River, east of Golden BC. I haven't been on it yet, but it looks very tall and impressive.

- The one-lane metal bridge in Revelstoke, over the Columbia River, just south of the TransCanada Highway. I like the river, and I like that 1-lane bridge.

[Kahloke]

Montlake Bridge by The University of Washington in Seattle. It's just a cool bridge! Here's some links to it:

www.byz.org/~rbanks/architecture/MOHAITour/default.htm

www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=3133

[Nick]

It's nothing spectacular, but my favourite bridge is the single lane wooden bridge in Port Renfrew. It is the start of Harris Creek Main from the end of Highway 14. It has white wooden railings, and looks very old. I like it more because of my memories of it rather than the bridge itself. We always used to go camping at Fairy Lake, just outside of Port Renfrew, and that bridge was my favourite part of the trip, because it marked the start of the gravel road.

[Mill Bay]

Flugel this is a really good topic. It's interesting to see how many of us all share so many interests.

I have so many bridges that I consider beautiful, but the one that I'm most aware of right now is one that doesn't exist anymore. I think about it a lot because I drive across it's replacement a lot: It was the bridge across the Stave River and Highway 7 just west of Mission. It used to be this beautiful multiple span through truss that was such an adventure to drive through... now it's just a flat concrete beam, a bit of an arch in the road, but probably the most boring bridge in B.C.

I was intruiged to here you say the old bridge in Lillooet. I never got the chance to walk it, but I was intruiged because Lillooet has a couple old wood truss bridges that are fun to cross as well.

[Ferryman]

Well for bridges that I've been over before, this one is my favorite for City bridges. This is the Fremont bridge in Portland, Oregon, which was actually designed after the Port Mann Bridge here in BC. The major difference between the two, is that it's double decked, having one deck for each direction of traffic.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremont_Bridge_%28Portland%29

Another bridge I've liked, because it always sticks out in my mind from when I was growing up. This is the little single laned wooden bridge that crosses the Chemainus River, between Chemainus and Crofton.

www.flickr.com/photos/lifeisbestincolour/2546883099/

On the topic of bridges:

The William R. Bennet bridge in Kelowna is now being demolished, now that the new bridge is complete. I was one of the last cars to drive over the old bridge a few weeks ago, because only traffic going into Kelowna was using the old bridge during the night. But by the morning, the new bridge was finally opened. Here's a few pics...

[Kahloke]

Jun 24, 2008 22:44:15 GMT -8 Ferryman said:

Well for bridges that I've been over before, this one is my favorite for City bridges. This is the Fremont bridge in Portland, Oregon, which was actually designed after the Port Mann Bridge here in BC. The major difference between the two, is that it's double decked, having one deck for each direction of traffic.

I just went over the Fremont Bridge a few weekends ago. You're right - that is a cool bridge. BTW - great photos of those Kelowna bridges.

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

I must say, I'm super happy to see that old bridge go. That bridge traffic was always a big pain in the A**. I go over that bridge quite a few times a year, and I don't think I'll miss it one bit!

Back onto the original topic, I think that the Alex Fraser bridge has got to be one of my favourites off hand. I like the structure of the bridge, and how the cables are done.

However, that new one in the Golden area is also quite neat. I think it is so impresive how high that thing is! It is so modern.

[Kahloke]

Here's a slightly different twist: pedestrian bridges. I have 3 bridges here, 1 classic types, and 2 modern types, and all pedestrian only. These are photos that I took, BTW.

Millennium Bridge - London: this bridge is quite famous, and actually infamous. It had a fairly troubled beginning, but it's still a great piece of modern architecture




This is also a famous bridge - Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon


Another modern take on the pedestrian bridge. This is the Zubi Zuri Bridge in Bilbao, Spain, just up-river from the famous Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry

[Barnacle]

Jun 24, 2008 22:44:15 GMT -8 Ferryman said:

On the topic of bridges:

The William R. Bennet bridge in Kelowna is now being demolished, now that the new bridge is complete.

So THAT'S what they were doing when I was there a couple of years ago! Too bad, it was kind of a cool bridge. But Sean now gets some of his life back instead of waiting for a boat to play through. ;D

[Low Light Mike]

Jun 25, 2008 12:09:12 GMT -8 Barnacle said:

Jun 24, 2008 22:44:15 GMT -8 Ferryman said:

On the topic of bridges:

The William R. Bennett bridge in Kelowna is now being demolished, now that the new bridge is complete.

So THAT'S what they were doing when I was there a couple of years ago! Too bad, it was kind of a cool bridge. But Sean now gets some of his life back instead of waiting for a boat to play through. ;D

For the sake of clarity & accuracy, I'll point out the typo/brain-cramp in the above quote:

The William Richards Bennett bridge is the name of the new bridge, that just opened. This Bennett is still alive, and was Premier of BC from 1974 to 1986.

I'm not sure who the now-being-demolished bridge was named after, or if it even had an official name.

[johnnytindale]

Jun 25, 2008 12:38:10 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

I'm not sure who the now-being-demolished bridge was named after, or if it even had an official name.

Okanagan Lake Floating Bridge

[WettCoast]

I thought for a bit about Mr. Fluge's musings on bridges and I thought about 'Hagwilget'. I asked my wife and she too said 'Hagwilget'. This is somewhat like the Alexandria Bridge in the Fraser Canyon (mentioned above). The Hagwilget bridge is, however, one of the highest suspension bridges in Canada, with its bridge deck almost 90 metres above the canyon waters of the Bulkley River near Hazelton, BC. It was built in 1930 and is the third bridge on the site.

www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw10hagwilget.html

[Low Light Mike]

Jun 25, 2008 20:43:44 GMT -8 WettCoast said:

I thought for a bit about Mr. Fluge's musings on bridges and I thought about 'Hagwilget'. I asked my wife and she too said 'Hagwilget'. This is somewhat like the Alexandria Bridge in the Fraser Canyon (mentioned above). The Hagwilget bridge is, however, one of the highest suspension bridges in Canada, with its bridge deck almost 90 metres above the canyon waters of the Bulkley River near Hazelton, BC. It was built in 1930 and is the third bridge on the site.

www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw10hagwilget.html

Yes, I agree. I drove over that bridge in 2004, on my way to Kasan & Hazelton. I was impressed too.

[Mill Bay]

O.k.... apart from bridges that don't exist anymore, I would say, right now, my current favorite bridges are the Ironworkers, because I just love that graceful arch from underneath, and the railway lift bridge beside it.

And the Lion's Gate, especially at night.

I also like the Pitt River bridges (but not the traffic), because one of them is green, and because they move.

The Alex Fraser looks better from a distance, I've found. Driving over it is kinda boring, because all you have to look at are these two huge H's looming towards you. It was interesting at one time, but now there are so many cable-stayed bridges in the world, that most of them are actually quite plain and boring to look at.

[Ferryman]

Jun 25, 2008 10:19:55 GMT -8 Kahloke said:

This is also a famous bridge - Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Heh, I've been over that bridge! . Beautiful photo!

Jun 25, 2008 12:38:10 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

For the sake of clarity & accuracy, I'll point out the typo/brain-cramp in the above quote:

The William Richards Bennett bridge is the name of the new bridge, that just opened. This Bennett is still alive, and was Premier of BC from 1974 to 1986.

I'm not sure who the now-being-demolished bridge was named after, or if it even had an official name.

Thanks for the clarification. I knew I should have checked my facts.

[Mike C]

Just curious, have any of you seen the new Canada Line bridge that spans over the North Arm of the Fraser River, in parallel with the Oak Street Bridge? It's very neat, I'd have to say my favourite bridge in Vancouver currently is that one.

Second up for me is the 100-something year old Fraser River railway bridge next to the Patullo. It has a good long history and adds character to the river.

My third is the Burrard Street Bridge downtown, tied with the Lions Gate. Those two bridges win the 'AWESOMENESS' award.

-----

My favourite bridge internationally is the Golden Gate. Only been over it once, just last fall, but it was great.

Second up is the Brooklyn Bridge. Walked that one back in '05, but it was amazing.

[Alex]

Jun 26, 2008 17:56:28 GMT -8 Mike C said:

Second up is the Brooklyn Bridge. Walked that one back in '05, but it was amazing.

I walked over it on '06! Definitely a neat bridge, for sure, and a great walk too!. I'd have to say that would be my favourite bridge. The fact that it's so old, and still being used by vehicular traffic is amazing. It's also neat how it's kind of a hybrid between a cable stayed bridge and a suspension bridge.

[Low Light Mike]

Here's a bridge at Hector, BC, at the top of the "Big Hill" at Kicking Horse Pass. This old bridge is right beside the current highway Route#1.

I'm puzzled. Is this an old railway bridge (from the big hill), or is it the old highway bridge?

The top of the bridge suggests highway, re the flat table-top. But I'm hoping that it was actually the old railway bridge, and that they later modified the top.

Does anyone know what this old bridge was used for?

Thanks.

[Northern Exploration]

On one trip we walked out on that bridge. They have ripped up the old road in many places and in others the new road is on top of it. There was talk of using the places where the old road was to make some bike/hiking lanes. Charity rides through the mountains, as well as regular bikers, often have semi trucks whizzing by an it would be much more safe. However the expense is pretty significant and then many naturalists don't want any more pavement in that area. Would be nice to see the remaining old bridges put to some use and maintained.

[Low Light Mike]

Here's a pic of the Union Steamship "Lady Alexandria".

oops, that's the bridge with her name, instead (on the Fraser, south of Hell's Gate, just north of the new Alexandria bridge:





===================


- The footbridge over the Kicking Horse river, in Golden, BC:

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Flug,

Did you take any photos of the remnants of the old wooden roadway along the river on the far side (from the present highway) of the Alexandria Bridge? I was always intrigued by the method they used to support the roadway...angled wood kickers supported in notches carved in the rock of the canyon wall. These kickers, in turn, supported the beams and deck of the roadbed as it hung out over the river. I have heard stories about trips up the canyon prior to the construction of the new bridge from my uncle...it must have been a hair-raising trip in inclement weather, especially during the spring run-off. That roadway was very close to the river at the best of times!

I've had some "not-so-fun" trips up the canyon before dealing with heavy fog and low visibility, but I doubt anything that would compare with a bad trip up the old road.

[Low Light Mike]

Aug 13, 2008 5:41:18 GMT -8 D'Elete BC in NJ said:

Flug,

Did you take any photos of the remnants of the old wooden roadway along the river on the far side (from the present highway) of the Alexandria Bridge?

Sorry, no pictures of that area. I was pressed-for-time, and so I just ran down to the bridge, took a couple of pictures, walked over it, and back, and then walked back up to the highway.

[WettCoast]

Aug 12, 2008 18:08:26 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Here's a bridge at Hector, BC, at the top of the "Big Hill" at Kicking Horse Pass. This old bridge is right beside the current highway Route#1.

I'm puzzled. Is this an old railway bridge (from the big hill), or is it the old highway bridge?

The top of the bridge suggests highway, re the flat table-top. But I'm hoping that it was actually the old railway bridge, and that they later modified the top.

Does anyone know what this old bridge was used for?

Thanks.

Fluge,

That is indeed the bridge that was once part of CP's main line trackage on the original 'Big Hill' route. It is not the original bridge, however. The original was built of timber and lasted about 10 years when it was replaced by the structure you see in your photo.

Sometime after the spiral tunnel route went into operation (1909), most of the original rail route was converted into a road way allowing motor cars to be driven all the way from Laggan to Field. Obviously, they had to re-deck the old bridge for vehicle traffic. That route, and the old bridge remained in operation until the present TCH route was constructed in the 1950's or early 60's (I am not quite certain on the time of the TCH construction).

Parks Canada had an interpretive sign at the bridge in your photo. Having passed by there about a week ago I noticed the sign is gone. They are no doubt re-doing it. At any rate, it gave a brief history on the bridge. It would be nice if they could somehow include the bridge in an updated historical exhibit on the railway history of Kicking Horse Pass.

See section 4.3 of this document for more info...
www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/inc/PM-MP/plan/pd-mp_e.pdf

Jim, currently in Vernon...

[Low Light Mike]

re bridge at Kicking Horse pass:

Thanks WCK, for that insight. It makes sense that the structure was used both for a railway (1895-1909) and for the early auto road.

The short 10-year life of the original railway bridge is consistent with what Pierre Berton wrote (The last spike) about the CPR doing temporary structures in the final push to get the railway open.

[WettCoast]

Some more on the old CPR 'Big Hill' bridge just west of Kicking Horse Pass, in BC's Yoho National Park...



The photo above was taken by Nicholas Morant, the famed CPR photographer for whom Morant's Curve is named. The photo and the accompanying text are from another fine railway booklet entitled Canadian Pacific's Big Hill - A Hundred Years of Operation - by Floyd Yeats, & published by the BRMNA of Calgary [http://www.brmna.com].

I have several rail history books showing this bridge (some showing trains), and its wooden predecessor, during the years between 1885 and 1909, when the bridge was made redundant by the completion of the Spiral Tunnels route.

An example is found on page 59 of Robert D. Turner's book West of the Great Divide.