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| | Project Relevance | |
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The reconstruction of the Lions Gate Bridge involved the complete replacement of the hangers and suspended structure,
including the engineering and planning required developing of erection procedures, design and construct all the erection equipment.
The project also included the design-build contract for the sidewalk widening of the North Approach Viaduct
from the north cable bent of the Lions Gate Bridge to the South end of the approach ramps, approximately 700 m long.
The new orthotropic sidewalk plate extension, floor beam extension, and expansion joint extension and pedestrian/cyclist
fence modification were major components of this work.
The North Approach Viaduct sidewalk was widened to provide 2.0 m clear sidewalk.
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| | Project Description | |
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The Lions Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge with a main span of 472 m and two side spans 187 m long,
originally built in the late 1930’s. With the deck and trusses corroding, and loads exceeding the original design load,
it was determined that the bridge deck and hangers required replacement while maintaining the high volume rush hour traffic.
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| | Design Challenges | |
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The reconstruction of the Lions Gate Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, BC opens a new chapter in bridge renovation techniques.
There is no known precedent for replacing the entire stiffening truss and deck of a major suspension bridge
without closing it to traffic during reconstruction. During 10-hour night closures, complete sections of stiffening truss and deck,
weighing approximately 100 tonnes each, were replaced, and the bridge was re-opened for traffic the next morning.
The complexity of erection engineering and requirements for innovative erection equipment greatly exceeded expectations
of all involved in the project. Despite such problems, the Contractor and its engineering team completed the project safely,
successfully and with relatively minor disruption and inconvenience to the travelling public.
The lessons learned will permit owners, designers, contractors and erection engineers to appraise the difficulties of similar
projects and allow sufficient time and resources for engineering and planning.
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| | Construction Supervision | |
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Providing regular site inspections of the construction work, as well as, review of shop drawings and
technical specifications of the materials.
Ensuring that all erection equipment was being properly used and bridge hangers were not being overstressed
during construction operations.
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