Burrard Street Bridge

Industry

Transportation

Client

Contractor: Graham Construction 

Owner: City of Vancouver 

Location

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

False Creek crossing to connect Vancouver with Kitsilano

Products + Scope

Expansion JointsGuard RailsStructural Bearing

Expansion Joint Replacement 

Bridge Bearings 

Deck Drains 

Structure Details

Constructed from 1930 to 1932, the Burrard Street Bridge is a 2,743-foot (836 m), Art Deco style, steel truss bridge. The approach spans are configured as below deck Warren trusses, while the central span is an above deck Pratt truss to allow greater clearance height for passing ships. Imposing masonry piers feature overhead galleries of regional sculptings.

Project Highlights

• During the phase 1 of seismic upgrades in 2013, Marcon supplied 27 self-lubricating disc bearings with Teflon horizontal sliding surfaces to allow the bridge to expand and contract during a seismic event. Marcon received a Silver Award from the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) in the Manufacturers and Suppliers category for this work.
• These seismic upgrades were made even more challenging under the requirement of maintaining traffic flow and when considering the tight tolerances beneath the bridge deck during installation.
• In 2018, Marcon supplied and installed architectural safety rail, expansion joint modifications and below deck walkways and maintenance platforms. Specific considerations were made to conform structural and safety components to the existing heritage aesthetics, including picket-style means protection fences fixed directly to bridge masonry.