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Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02
What I don't get is the fact that the alignment just west of the bridge was only put into place approximately 10-12 years ago when that segment was realigned to upgrade it to a full limited-access freeway. Previously, the WB lanes continued straight on before turning towards the south to create a large median between the WB lanes and EB lanes with houses and hobby farms within the "median"
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Better to put everything into context. When the entire "401" was completed circa 1964, the freeway ended at Hwy 11. East of there, the only interchange was the Vedder interchange in Chilliwack - the rest of the 4-lane arterial Hwy 1 comprised numerous cross-roads, access/egress points, and even a Tourism BC stopping point in the centre median between Hwy 11 and the Vedder Canal until circa 1985.
During the early/mid 1970's a couple of interchanges were then added - the first two constructed out of steel (Prest and Lickman?). Then in the late 1970's/early 1980's a few more interchanges were constructed and by 1986 the entire route was upgraded to freeway standard.
The only remaining "blip" was the WB lane deflection west of the Vedder Canal, which was the original 2-lane hwy thru the valley. The WB lane cross-section itself was fine but the narrow two-lane bridge with green guard rails and the farmhouse access points were obviously not. Actually, the gravel base for the new WB lanes was already in place for ~1/2 km (from 1964) but had become overgrown with trees and weeds. Don't know why that was not completed back in the day.
That upgrade should also have been completed by 1986 but MoT decided to wait another 10+ years for whatever reason.
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1) widen the bridge to accommodate proper shoulders at least on the right side.
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Could be done I guess by adding additional piers to each structure, but is it worth it?
One of the structures was constructed circa 1959 and the other might even be the original span and hence even older. By the time anything happens here both structures will be at least 60 - 70 years old and near the end of their useful lifespan.
Likely more cost efficient to construct a new 6-lane angled structure slightly downstream with gentler curves in terms of the approaches.