[officedweller]

From the Coquitlam Now - I didn't know it was a cable-stayed span - should look good if it gets built.

PoCo cable bridge $33 million over estimate

Simone Blais, Coquitlam NOW
Published: Wednesday, December 05, 2007

A cable bridge over the CN Rail yard to Coast Meridian Road -- pegged as the solution to Port Coquitlam's transportation woes -- is now $33.3 million over cost projections made just one year ago.

Coun. Michael Wright said Monday he wasn't "hugely surprised" to see that the cost of the $98.7-million overpass project had risen to $132 million, given how many infrastructure projects have come in over budget and initial estimates throughout Metro Vancouver.

"We know that the construction climate at the moment is extremely busy. We know the materials and labour have both increased," he said, adding that some people have wondered whether it would be better to hold off on the project until after the 2010 Olympics -- thought to be fuelling the Greater Vancouver boom.

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/157ccc88-d038-4a4c-b40b-818d8519d682/poco-cable-bridge-33-milli.jpg

Design concept for the cable bridge over the CN Rail yard to Coast Meridian Road.
Photo submitted

It's not a good time to build, but then I can't see that any time in the future will be any better," he said.

The city announced Friday that SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) Inc. submitted the preferred bid after a request-for-proposals process.

The $132-million cost of the four-lane overpass includes construction, land acquisitions, CP Rail access, utility relocation, engineering, legal services and contingencies.

The city noted in its announcement that the design-build contract will fix the price of construction, including inflation and, therefore, it doesn't anticipate changes to the $132-million figure.

TransLink has already pledged $60 million to the project, about 45 per cent of the total cost.

The city is picking up the remainder with other grants ($5 million), land sale reserves ($21.2 million), other reserves ($9 million), major transportation reserves ($3.4 million) and fees from developers ($27.2 million) -- but that still leaves the city $6.2 million short.

Wright said one option for covering the shortfall is going into debt -- a paradigm shift for the city, which has prided itself on being debt-free for many years.

"We've not had external debt for a long time, a number of years," he said. "We do borrow money, we borrow it from ourselves and then pay it back to ourselves.

"But this is going outside, it's a big step. I'm sure there will be people who will not be in favour of the city going out to borrow money on the public market."

Coun. Greg Moore said Monday that he views borrowing money for the overpass much like a homeowner would view a mortgage.

"You don't save up enough money to buy the entire house," he said. "This is a major purchase for the city.

"If we were going to borrow money to upgrade a couple of roads, then I would be totally against it. But this is probably the biggest project we'll see in my lifetime."

Choosing the preferred bid hinges not only on cost, but the design of the structure.

A cable-stayed bridge system has been chosen for the overpass, which engineering director Igor Zahynacz said Monday would be easy on the city's pocketbook, but also on the eyes.

"It's very much similar to the Alex Fraser Bridge, where there are towers that support cables," he said, adding that the overpass would also be similar to the Lions Gate Bridge.

"There's the towers that support cables. The theory there is the cables give additional support to the bridge deck, and the bridge deck then doesn't have to be such a deep structure because it can be lighter weight."

If the bridge deck is shallower, Zahynacz said, less concrete and steel would be required -- and they are expensive commodities during the construction boom.

"It has a little bit more esthetic, because it's not a deep steel structure," he added.

Whether or not residents prefer the design and costs, however, will be more accurately gauged during Thursday's meeting.

More information about the design-build contractor and process will be provided at the public meeting, set for 7 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Hyde Creek Recreation Centre, at 1379 Laurier Ave. Information about the project design will be offered, and a question-and-answer period will follow.

Moore said he's looking forward to hearing the different reactions from PoCo residents.

"We need to deal with the traffic related to other communities and the growth around us. We have to get 25,000 people off of Burke Mountain, then how are they going to get off that hill? Somebody has to come up with that alternative, which is better and cheaper than the Coast Meridian overpass," he said. "We've done our studies, and believe this is the best solution for us.

"I hope people come out with their concerns and ideas (on Thursday), and some people say that they're in favour of this, that (we) do have the mandate to go forward on this."

© Coquitlam Now 2007

[Stingray2004]

Yeah, at $132 million it's almost in the same league cost-wise as the nearby Pitt River Bridge - Mary Hill Bypass/Lougheed Hwy interchange project.

In fact, Coast Meridian overpass traffic will feed into the Mary Hill Bypass, which in turn, is slated for widening and interchange upgrades as part of the North Fraser Perimeter Road project.

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/__shared/assets/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_-_Dec_2007_artist_rendering_300px4609.jpg

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/Discover_Port_Coquitlam/Getting_Around/Transportation_Projects/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project.htm

[SpongeG]

not bad

its really going to mess up that neighbourhood at the end though

[hollywoodnorth]

awesome!

[David]

that's pretty cool. first time i've heard of it being cable-stayed.
this project is so desperately needed in this city, i can't wait for its completion

[twoNeurons]

it's interesting how, due to materials prices, it's cheaper to build it cable-stayed.

[Metro-One]

Just a little up-date on this project. A pdf of the Sept 8th open house. Construction has began and some base pillar structures are already in place within the train yard.

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/__shared/assets/CMO_Open_House_Sept_08_-_preliminary_panels6049.pdf

[SpongeG]

ah yes i was quite surpriseed when i was last in the area - in julyish and there was quite a lot going on

[Distill3d]

how many cable stay bridge's does this region need?

[Stingray2004]

One interesting tidbit that was in the .pdf file that has not been posted anywhere else is that the Mary Hill Bypass section of the NFPR will be upgraded to freeflow with 3 new interchanges:

New interchanges on Mary Hill ByPass at Kingsway, Broadway and Pitt River Road

What about Shaughnessy?

[officedweller]

Thanks for the info!

The "push-launch" method is the same technique they used on that Foster bridge in France - Millau Viaduct (?) - which also used a "needle tower" cable stayed design.

[Stingray2004]

The "push-launch" method is the same technique they used on that Foster bridge in France - Millau Viaduct (?) - which also used a "needle tower" cable stayed design.

Yeah, I also noticed that and it was the Millau Viaduct, which utilized "push-launch" construction.

For the life of me, I still can't understand this pic of the Millau Viaduct, during construction, which seems to defy the laws of physics.:D

http://z.hubpages.com/u/56378_f260.jpg

[officedweller]

Thanks what will happen in PoCo too. The deck and tower tops are one unit and are being pushed across the supports below (tower bases plus some additional steel supports) as the deck and tower tops are assembled on one end of the bridge. Once the full length is attained and pushed into place the tower tops will line up with their corresponding bases and be secured.

You can see the additional supports in this pic, presumably so the deck/tower structure isn't supporting itself from its weakest points. The additional supports are removed after construction.

http://www.abelard.org/images/for-news/millau.jpg

[fever]

The pic isn't showing. The tension must be incredible when the tower isn't directly above the pylon. Amazing stuff.

[excel]

sweet to hear this is underway, thanks fo the update!

[mr.x]

sweeetness...how much will it cost?

[red-paladin]

This is my first post,
I've been reading you guys talking for years, but never had a real email address (or anything to add) but now I have one so I could get an account.

Here is a rendering of the overpass from the design page

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/__shared/assets/CMO_graphic_2_March_20085298.jpg

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/Discover_Port_Coquitlam/Getting_Around/Transportation_Projects/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project/Project_Design.htm

[LeftCoaster]

Wow, well great fist post... thanks!

[Jared]

sweeetness...how much will it cost?

Look at the original post.


also, you guys might be interested in this:

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/__shared/assets/North-Side_Road_Design5640.pdf


BTW, the project is supposed to be completed by January 2010.
source: http://tsedb.globeinvestor.com/servlet/WireFeedRedirect?cf=GlobeInvestor/tsx/config&date=20080117&archive=cnw&slug=C9759

[Metro-One]

the thread title of this should be changed to U/C

[Jared]

the thread title of this should be changed to U/C

yes, we issued the North side drawings about a month ago (as you can see from the pdfs of the construction drawings I posted).

Or maybe you've seen the site (in that case, pix plz!)

[David]

yea, this project is pretty far along. the north side intersection design is pretty much complete. theyre just doing the finishing touches before all traffic is directed through the new 'lougheed meridian road' rather than directly to the old intersection. and from the road on the north you can see at least one set of pillars is done

[Metro-One]

i may take some pics this weekend, i should be in the area, depends on the weather.

[lightrail]

Yeah, at $132 million it's almost in the same league cost-wise as the nearby Pitt River Bridge - Mary Hill Bypass/Lougheed Hwy interchange project.

In fact, Coast Meridian overpass traffic will feed into the Mary Hill Bypass, which in turn, is slated for widening and interchange upgrades as part of the North Fraser Perimeter Road project.

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/__shared/assets/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_-_Dec_2007_artist_rendering_300px4609.jpg

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/Discover_Port_Coquitlam/Getting_Around/Transportation_Projects/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project.htm

Still a great deal for $130+ million. Edmonton is wasting money on a split-diamond interchange at 23rd Avenue and QEII Highway for a mere $300 million, only just over $200 million over the initial budget.

[deasine]

Changed title

[Metro-One]

As promised, a few pictures. They are not the best, it is kind of a strange site to photograph unless one has a helicopter.

The new road connecting Lougheed and Coast meridian (it wraps around Tim Hortons)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2893795663_ff7ae37b0d.jpg?v=0

And looking the other direction
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/2894636700_41ce17e680.jpg?v=0

And the first set of pillars

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2893793519_78bb514199.jpg?v=0

All pictures are my own
Cheers

[excel]

great thanks man

[Hong Kongese]

Another cost overrun for Coast Meridian overpass

Jennifer McFee, Coquitlam NOW
Published: Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The price tag on the Coast Meridian Overpass project continues to climb, with another $3.4 million in unanticipated costs announced Friday.

Port Coquitlam's chief administrative officer, Tony Chong, said the additional costs are due to several factors. Land and site preparation rang in at $900,000 more than originally expected, mainly due to settlement costs for property acquisition,

An extra $1.2 million will go towards utility relocation, and $700,000 is needed to meet Department of Fisheries and Oceans requirements. The contract with SNC-Lavalin Constructors will be allotted an extra $500,000 for driveway access projects and an enhanced bus bay. The final $100,000 will be used for property management and development increases.

The city hopes to offset the cost by applying for grants through the federal and provincial governments, as well as through ICBC. It may also defer some capital projects, like the Maple Creek drainage project, as long as this doesn't create any hardships in the community.

"Because of the newness of this information, staff is still looking at different ways to mitigate these additional costs of the project and manage it in ways that it doesn't affect the taxpayers and the businesses too seriously," said Chong, adding that city staff received the new estimates last Thursday.





© Coquitlam Now 2008

[Mininari]

I don't know... a new link across the Poco rail yard is definitely needed, but this thing is definitely starting to sound like a fiscal black hole.

130M+ for a single overpass???
So... they could have built this thing AND the Clarke-Murray overpass in Port Moody back in 2000 for less than this thing is costing now?

I'm sorry, but Translink projects have taken WAAAY too long to break ground.
Look at the Pitt River Bridge. It was conceived, planned, and is under construction, all started after the CMO was conceived.

[Jared]

Its a matter of when you get funding. No money = no work happening. AFAIK, the Pitt River Bridge is considered a high-priority project, which is why it appears to have gone "faster".

[officedweller]

130M+ for a single overpass???
So... they could have built this thing AND the Clarke-Murray overpass in Port Moody back in 2000 for less than this thing is costing now?


It's a pretty big project.

Bridge facts:
• The bridge superstructure will total 580 metres in length.
• The bridge will consist of six spans, each up to 125 metres in length.
• Cables attached to four 25-metre-tall steel pylons will support the bridge
deck.
• The bridge structure will be comprised of twin steel box girders with a composite concrete deck.
• More than 4,500 tonnes of steel will be used to build the bridge
superstructure.

[red-paladin]

I live in the North side of Poco, and yes we really really need this bridge. There are only two roads that connect north poco to south poco right now. Shaughnessy is next to the coquitlam river, and only has 2 lanes, and city council made sure it can never be expanded :(. The other is the mary hill bypass which is four lanes, on the exact other side of town near the pitt river.
This bridge will add 4 north-south lanes in the middle of the city and help divert a lot of traffic off the lougheed that would be travelling to the other two roads

[amor de cosmos]

It's a pretty big project.

Bridge facts:
• The bridge superstructure will total 580 metres in length.
• The bridge will consist of six spans, each up to 125 metres in length.
• Cables attached to four 25-metre-tall steel pylons will support the bridge
deck.
• The bridge structure will be comprised of twin steel box girders with a composite concrete deck.
• More than 4,500 tonnes of steel will be used to build the bridge
superstructure.

yeah "overpass" is an understatement

[Mininari]

ONLINE FIRST: PoCo forced to borrow $25M for Coast Meridian Overpass

By Gary McKenna - The Tri-City News

Published: December 12, 2008 3:00 PM
Updated: December 12, 2008 4:00 PM

0 Comments

The current economic slowdown has forced the city of Port Coquitlam to dip further into debt than anticipated in order to pay for the Coast Meridian Overpass.

The city, originally expecting to have to borrow $6.2 million, will now need the full $25 million it's allowed to borrow by the Municipal Finance Authority to pay for the project.

Several funding sources the city was counting on have either not panned out or have been delayed, including $13 million expected from land sales that have yet to be completed.

PoCo's chief administrative officer, Tony Chong, said the global economic meltdown has forced the city to implement its contingency borrowing plan.

"We are following through on a fallback strategy," Chong told The Tri-City News Friday. "When we first walked into this... nobody would have any idea about the financial meltdown. It is a bit fortuitous of the financial folks [staff] to at least anticipate some of these things."

The contingency loan, Chong said, was always a possibility and was presented during an open house on the project last year.

How quickly the city can pay back the borrowed money depends on several factors.

A part of the funds budgeted for the project depended on the sale of the old Port Coquitlam works yard, as well as several smaller properties the city holds.

Chong said those deals, and the $13 million that would have come from their sale, have been delayed. But he said he's confident the deals will close and the city will receive the money it expects from the sale.

Another $5 million in development cost charge revenues has also been delayed after several residential and commercial projects, including Townline's City Walk project on Mary Hill Road, and some Dominion Triangle development, were put on hold.

Once the housing market picks up again, Chong said the city will receive those funds, which will immediately go toward paying down the $25-million debt.

When the real estate market is expected to turn around is up for debate, according to Townline's director of residential development Bob Pearce. He said the company is re-evaluating every area of its operations, including its Port Coquitlam project.

"I think what we have to do... is reassess everything in light of where the market is now," Pearce said. "The markets have obviously softened. It doesn't mean we won't go ahead with [the PoCo project] but maybe in a different schedule."

Coun. Darrell Penner said until the economy starts to turn around and the city can sell some of its land holdings, it will rely on the loan.

"This is very much bridge funding," he said. "We were expecting funding to come from land deals... That money is coming, it just hasn't arrived at the time that we need it to."

The city was also relying on a $3 million Local Motion grant from the provincial government. The first instalment of $1 million was denied but Chong said he's confident the project will receive the additional $2 million in funding over the next two years.

With the city turning to its contingency plan, Chong said it is possible council will have to reassess its priorities and consider postponing several infrastructure projects.

"That is the kind of question council will have to address with staff," he said. "That is to what extent can we defer some of these projects so it reduces the pressure on increasing taxes."

The subject will likely come up tomorrow night (Monday) during a special council meeting at 5:30 p.m., when councillors are expected to vote on the first three readings of the temporary borrowing bylaw.

[Metro-One]

I drove down Kingsway in Poco today, this project is movingahead fast now, they have the first tower and a large section of the bridge deck built.

[Mininari]

I drove down Kingsway in Poco today, this project is movingahead fast now, they have the first tower and a large section of the bridge deck built.

Good to hear! Anyone in the area have a good camera?

[hollywoodnorth]

i'm thinking we need some pics :)

[Metro-One]

I will take some pics next time i am out there. I was in a rush to get to Maple Ridge yesterday, so i had no time. But driving from Coquitlam to Maple Ridge feels like the entire city is u/c, first i had to drive through the Coast Meridian project, then the Pitt River Bridge project and then through the Golden Ears viaduct/Lougheed interchange construction. How often in Vancouver, or any city really, do you drive through 3 major cable stayed bridge projects in 20 minutes?

[East Van]

Quick, terrible picture while driving by with my cell. South end by Kingsway ave.

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff329/Infiniti_G/Image009.jpg

[officedweller]

Nice, thanks!

[East Van]

I should add its tall enough to be seen from the far north side on hwy #7.

[touraccuracy]

This is like 10 minutes from my house and I have a good camera, but damn I'm lazy.

Is it going to hook right up with Coast Meridian on the other side? Are they going to have to tear down whatever is at the corner of Kingsway and Coast?

[GeeCee]

It's going to spit out at the intersection of Kingsway and Broadway.

http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/__shared/assets/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project_-_Fact_Sheet1625.pdf

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/Discover_Port_Coquitlam/Getting_Around/Transportation_Projects/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project/Project_Design.htm

[Kwik-E-Mart]

It's going to spit out at the intersection of Kingsway and Broadway.

http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/__shared/assets/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project_-_Fact_Sheet1625.pdf

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/Discover_Port_Coquitlam/Getting_Around/Transportation_Projects/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project/Project_Design.htm

This makes much sense, since having the southern terminus at Coast Meridian would be too close to the future Pitt River Bridge interchange for the overpass to be useful.

[SpongeG]

i found this rendering of it

http://www.snc-lavalin.com/upload/expertise/web_projet_inf_bco.jpg
source: snc-lavalin

[David]

thats an old rendering of the original proposal, which had two huge offramps east and west of the overpass in the median of Lougheed.

what is being built is going to cross over the highway and then connect with the new connector road that is built west of Wendys/Tim Hortons and then meet up with the Lougheed

[SpongeG]

ah i was just wondering what it was cause it didn't look like what is going in

[red-paladin]

Renderings of the entire project are available here:

http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/Discover_Port_Coquitlam/Getting_Around/Transportation_Projects/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project/Project_Design.htm

[KPELLY]

Red-paladin posted a new rendering of the project in the Suburban Updates thread in-case you don't usually visit that thread.

[officedweller]

From the Tri-City news:

http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/320*260/13375tricityCMOconstruction-4.jpg
The push-launch process being used in construction of the Coast Meridian Overpass is stopped for now but will soon resume.
Tri-City News file photo

Oops. 50mm stops some work on Port Coquitlam's Coast Meridian overpass
By Gary McKenna - The Tri-City News

Published: May 28, 2009 4:00 PM
Updated: May 28, 2009 4:13 PM

A four-lane, 1,500-tonne section of steel being pushed over Port Coquitlam's CP Rail yard as part of the Coast Meridian Overpass project is off its alignment by two measly inches.

But while that might not seem like much to some people, it was enough for crews to decide last Saturday to suspend the "push-launch" process in order to straighten the section.

"The second push-launch progressed to about two thirds of the way and there was a slight alignment issue of about 50 mm," said Dave Currie, PoCo transportation manager. "Instead of pressing on, the contractor decided to suspend things at that point."

Currie said the delay is expected to be brief. The push-launch process will likely reconvene to allow the section to be completed by June 6, the projected date for the section.

Fabrication of the next section is underway and that piece is expected to be brought to the site shortly after the completion of the second phase.

Construction along Kingsway is also progressing nicely, Currie said. He expects paving to be completed on the north side of the street in the next week before road workers move to the south side of the road.

Since early April, construction crews have been pushing massive sections of the bridge from the south side of PoCo across the rail yard to meet up with Coast Meridian Road near Wendy's on the north side of Lougheed Highway. When the process is in operation, the 1,500-tonne sections move 1.5 metres every five minutes.

The infrastructure project, which will cost taxpayers $135 million, is the largest in the city's history and will add a third connection between PoCo's north and south sides.

• For more information go to www.portcoquitlam.ca/cmo.

[red-paladin]

Sorry, I posted the updated rendering and timetable in suburban updates cause I was tired and wasn't thinking. Here are the two pictures:
http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/__shared/assets/CMO_drawing_April_20097183.jpg
http://www.city.port-coquitlam.bc.ca/__shared/assets/CMO_Construction_Timetable_jpeg6372.jpg

[deasine]

Thanks for that.

I see an articulated Nova Bus in the rendering =)

[SpongeG]

and that bus has no doors

[ravman]

anyone want to explain why this is needed.... can you not go around via MHB?

[nname]

anyone want to explain why this is needed.... can you not go around via MHB?

Because both Shaughnessy underpass and Lougheed Highway leading to Mary Hill Bypass are at capacity right now. It often takes 10-15 minutes just to get to the other side of the yard.

[osirisboy]

anyone want to explain why this is needed.... can you not go around via MHB?

hahaha, you're obviously kidding.

[vanman]

So according to the diagram construction of the superstructure must be well underway. It would be awesome if someone in the area posted some updates.

[David]

There's not really much to see. There is, obviously, no public access to the rail yard, so the only pictures one could take would really not do any justice to the thing, since it from quite far away

[SpongeG]

the lougheed area is well underway - roads rerouted etc pillars and stuff

[East Van]

The south end of the overpass is starting to shape up.
Most of the paving is done & some curbs are finished on the . The width of the intersection is pretty wide. There are more cables installed on the structure I posted the bottom of page 2.

It will be interesting to see how the traffic patterns change & how much more congested Broadway/Kingsway & Pitt River Road/Mclean become. Is there any more plans to upgrade those roads ?

[hollywoodnorth]

There's not really much to see. There is, obviously, no public access to the rail yard, so the only pictures one could take would really not do any justice to the thing, since it from quite far away

I bet we will get some Killer GLOBALAIRPHOTOS of the area soon :) that should satisfy everyone ;) me included ;)

[East Van]

From today.
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff329/Infiniti_G/IMGP4219.jpg

[officedweller]

Nice!

[Mininari]

:previous:
Wow, the view along my former morning commute along Kingsway is looking VERY different!

[Cypherus]

Wow, I didn't even know this was well on its way to completion.

[Metro-One]

Thats what i find so funny, 10 or even 5 years ago this wouls have been seen as a huge project but because there are currently so many bridge, train, building etc... projects going on it has faded into the woodwork.

[deasine]

Great photo! Thanks for the update.

[red-paladin]

The coolest part is that this is being push-launched. I mean they are building the bridge at the south end and pushing the structure north, supporting it with temporary pillars, like the Park Bridge in Kicking Horse Pass. I didn't even know that one could do that with cable stayed / extradosed bridges. I guess that's why only the widest cables are there, and they built the deck before the cable stays. We are like the extradosed bridge capital of the world now.

[Mininari]

Wow, I didn't even know this was well on its way to completion.

Yeah, its kind of odd to be saying such a thing for a major translink project.
Especially since its a translink project that originally had a completion date of ... 3 years ago? Same goes for the Golden Ears Bridge.

But its all moot if these projects are under construction, and not just dreams. :tup:

[GeeCee]

I wouldn't really call it a TransLink project. :) Sure, TransLink kicked in some funds, but the project is being driven by the City of Port Coquitlam.

[nname]

Thats what i find so funny, 10 or even 5 years ago this wouls have been seen as a huge project but because there are currently so many bridge, train, building etc... projects going on it has faded into the woodwork.

Even MapArt forgot to include this change in their 2010 atlas, and they seems to have included all others like Canada Line, Sea-to-Sky, Pitt River Bridge, Golden Ear Bridge, SFPR, etc..

[David]

Some pictures I took:

first two are the view from the south at Kingsway & Broadway

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3603791931_28ef1a50fb_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/3603794465_b07b77a0b1_b.jpg

this one is the view from the north at Lougheed & Oxford

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3604611284_b60f8cf1b5_b.jpg

[SpongeG]

cool pics

[wrenegade]

Thanks for the photos!

[David]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3694005577_0eecc2926a_b.jpg

update from this morning, photo taken by me from the west at Port Coquitlam Station

[officedweller]

Thanks!

[LeftCoaster]

Wow that is a foreboding shot, looks quite errie and post-apocalyptic.

[SpongeG]

^^ haha

thats pco - there can't be any place in the LM more ghetto than Poco - its like so gross

[officedweller]

Pics from the City of Port Coquitlam website provided by project contractors SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) Inc. taken on July 16, 2009.
- more at the link:

http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/Discover_Port_Coquitlam/Getting_Around/Transportation_Projects/Coast_Meridian_Overpass_Project/Construction_Photos.htm

Note: the bridge is being pushed to the north from this end:
http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/__shared/assets/Photo-Aerial-view-from-south-_west_-facing-north7481.jpg

http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/__shared/assets/Photo-Panoramic-view-from-south-approach-heading-north7489.jpg

http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/__shared/assets/Photo-Panoramic-view-including-north-approach-structure7490.jpg

[allan_kuan]

now that is cool. moving the entire bridge into place =O

[Stingray2004]

Thanks for the pics. That's certainly kinda neat!

[mr.x]

wow, i never knew how impressive this project was until i saw those pictures.


Not sure if this rendering has been posted
http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/__shared/assets/CMO_drawing_April_20097183.jpg

[nname]

Speaking of this project, the bridge deck is almost completed. Now the north end of the deck is above the westbound lane of Lougheed Highway... probably about 10 more metres to go!

[deasine]

Amazing photos.

[touraccuracy]

:previous:
Wow, the view along my former morning commute along Kingsway is looking VERY different!

haha, my former morning (and evening) commute too! shaugnassy > wilson > kingsway > broadway ;)

[hollywoodnorth]

wow great pics thanks for the score :)

[amor de cosmos]

i've never heard of that before.... i guess it's to minimize disruptions on the CN yard

[Delirium]

that;s really cool!

looking at the above rendering though, as a cyclist i think i'd feel much safer being on the other side of the concrete barrier with the pedestrians.
i can totally see people doing well over 100km on that stretch of road.

[David]

i've never heard of that before.... i guess it's to minimize disruptions on the CN yard

It is to provide a much-needed third crossing of the CPR (not CN) yards which have bisected PoCo for a century. Currently, the only crossings are the 2-lane Shaughnessy underpass and the 4-lane Mary Hill Bypass (which is too far from most neighbourhoods and too congested to be a worthwhile option)

[Mininari]

that;s really cool!

looking at the above rendering though, as a cyclist i think i'd feel much safer being on the other side of the concrete barrier with the pedestrians.
i can totally see people doing well over 100km on that stretch of road.


Yep, but it might become a favourite spot for speed traps too ;)
Sigh, whats the limit going to be? 50? 60?

[amor de cosmos]

It is to provide a much-needed third crossing of the CPR (not CN) yards which have bisected PoCo for a century. Currently, the only crossings are the 2-lane Shaughnessy underpass and the 4-lane Mary Hill Bypass (which is too far from most neighbourhoods and too congested to be a worthwhile option)

i meant the push-launching. i didn't know about this page of replies :P

[officedweller]

The Millau Viaduct (the Norman Foster one) was also push-launched (and it has needle tower like the Coast Meridian Overpass) - this is really a dumbed down version of the Millau Viaduct!

Powerpoint presentation:
http://www.ce.jhu.edu/perspectives/presentations_04-05/Millau.ppt

[Mininari]

It is to provide a much-needed third crossing of the CPR (not CN) yards which have bisected PoCo for a century. Currently, the only crossings are the 2-lane Shaughnessy underpass and the 4-lane Mary Hill Bypass (which is too far from most neighbourhoods and too congested to be a worthwhile option)

I would hope that the new interchange will alleviate the congestion at the Mary Hill underpass, especially northbound... however, that intersection where Kingsway meets the MHB will get worse before it gets better.

[SFUVancouver]

Note: the bridge is being pushed to the north from this end:
http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/__shared/assets/Photo-Aerial-view-from-south-_west_-facing-north7481.jpg


I did a double take when I saw the red truck in the foreground. That is an immense amount of steel.

Thank you for the pictures.

I echo the concern about cycling on the highway side of the Jersey barrier. I've cycled on Marine Way in Burnaby, which is basically a 80kph freeway with people doing 100+, and it was iffy. None the less, on principle I'm glad they incorporated the bike lanes.

[GeeCee]

The Millau Viaduct (the Norman Foster one) was also push-launched (and it has needle tower like the Coast Meridian Overpass) - this is really a dumbed down version of the Millau Viaduct!

Powerpoint presentation:
http://www.ce.jhu.edu/perspectives/presentations_04-05/Millau.ppt

There was an awesome episode of Frontiers of Construction or some similar show about this bridge.. :tup:

[cornholio]

that;s really cool!

looking at the above rendering though, as a cyclist i think i'd feel much safer being on the other side of the concrete barrier with the pedestrians.
i can totally see people doing well over 100km on that stretch of road.

I agree with you, I dont see whats so hard about moving the bike lanes inside the the concrete barriers and I hope someone realizes this before its to late. There are surprisingly lots of people in the area that bike to work,and if the bike lanes on the bridge were made safe then they would be well used thanks to a) lots of places with shift work and families with limited vehicles, b) lots of people who live a optimal distance from work in Port Coquitlam, c) jobs where there is no dress code or anything so you bike to work in what you wear at work and then bike home...trust me when I say there are lots of people who bike or would bike over the bridge.

I suggest enough people write to the City of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, and Translink about this simple issue....its really should be fixed before its too late.



By the way ill try to get some pics of the bridge, I stare at it all day every day(and most of the Pitt river bridge) and get a nice view from the side since I work a few meters from the CP yard, its pretty impressive and looks very nice in person...on a side note that new Liquor Distribution warehouse next to it is massive.

[amor de cosmos]

The Millau Viaduct (the Norman Foster one) was also push-launched (and it has needle tower like the Coast Meridian Overpass) - this is really a dumbed down version of the Millau Viaduct!

Powerpoint presentation:
http://www.ce.jhu.edu/perspectives/presentations_04-05/Millau.ppt

sounds like push-launching is used when it's hard to build from below. in that case it must have been because the deck is so high above the ground

[allan_kuan]

Also remember about the rail yard below... unlike other bridges where decks can be lifted into place they can't do that here because trains will be running around all day underneath.

[Jared]

http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/__shared/assets/Photo-Panoramic-view-including-north-approach-structure7490.jpg

If you look *very* closely in this picture, you can actually see 3 separate cable-stayed/extradosed bridges - Coast Meridian, Pitt River and Golden Ears.

[David]

I suggest enough people write to the City of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, and Translink about this simple issue....

Sorry, but what would Coquitlam do about this? This is one of my biggest pet peeves... Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam are two entirely different municipalities