Lions Gate Bridge

Industry

Transportation

Client

Contractor: American Bridge

Owner: BC Ministry of Transportation 

Location

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Inlet crossing to connect Vancouver with the North Shore

Products + Scope

Expansion JointsGuard RailsStructural Bearing

Finger Joints

Deck Drains

Guard Rail System

Bicycle Safety Rails

Pier Bearings

Structure Details

Originally constructed in 1938, the Lions Gate Bridge is a 5,981-foot (1,823 m) cable-stayed suspension bridge that spans the entrance to one of the busiest harbours in North America. Now known as a National Historic Site of Canada, the bridge has undergone numerous rehabilitation phases to improve travel and seismic performance.

Project Highlights

• Over the past two decades, Marcon has been the fabricator selected for all structural, safety and aesthetic upgrades.
• In 2000, Marcon participated in the complete replacement of the main deck. This work included supply of the guard rail system to enable wider lanes, the pedestrian safety rails for bike traffic and the drain duct system to keep surface water clear of structural steel.
• The deck replacement was considered a modern miracle as each suspended 65-foot (20 m) segment was pre-assembled and replaced using a gantry crane while maintaining regular traffic of nearly 70,000 vehicles per day.
• Following the deck replacement, Marcon contributed structural bearings to fortify four piers of the north approach viaduct against a 1-in-500-year seismic event. In this instance, we rectified design issues to supply lead-core rubber pier bearings and machined contact surfaces out of 10-inch steel to absorb and appropriately distribute force.
• In 2016, Marcon machined a finger joint system to replace a structurally expired section at the south tower. Installation took eight weeks and was facilitated without disrupting traffic using 42-foot (13 m) approach ramps on either side to enable work from below.