“For the first time ever, people living in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Surrey and Langley will be able to connect quickly and easily to friends, families and businesses on the other side of the Fraser River,” said TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast. These words became a reality as BBPI Canada’s flagship project, Golden Ears Bridge opened to the public on 16th June.

One and a half months later, the local communities are already seeing big benefits and are looking forward to welcoming the world to Vancouver, host city of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“ We’re getting positive response from people in the area who see how much their commute is being cut, some commuters between Maple Ridge and Surrey have seen their travel time cut in half” said TransLink spokesman Drew Snider (source: the Province).

Another measured improvement since the Golden Ears Bridge opened is the increase in tourism. Cheryl Johnson, Executive Director of Tourism Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, said visits to the visitor information kiosk were up more than 50 percent in June compared to last year. “What we are seeing is a lot of first-time visitors coming across the bridge to explore what we have out here” she said (source: Maple Ridge News).

This bridge is one of BBPI’s largest privately financed concession projects. The Public Private Partnership was completed ahead of schedule in May 2009, following a 38 month construction period and is the most significant road system improvement to the Greater Vancouver area since 1986. The bridge creates an important link from the Trans Canada highway to the city’s road network, joining communities on both sides of the Fraser River and was named after the twin mountain peaks that watch over the site from the North. The use of state of the art technology and attention to aesthetic design allow the bridge to reflect its natural environment.

The new bridge will have a considerable long term positive impact on the region, improving travel times and promoting economic and social activity for years to come. TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast called it a “Phenomenal accomplishment” and added, “We’re very confident this new bridge will mean more good-paying jobs for the people in the region and to serve as a catalyst for economic growth.”

Bridge and approach road statistics at a glance:

Roads:
13.3km of 2, 4 and 6 lane mainline roadway including the main bridge span
5km of on and off ramps
12.2 km of municipal street upgrades
2 km of modifications on provincial highways and interchanges

Bridges:
17 named bridges including the main river bridge
Total 4,656m of bridge length
Total 112,000 square metres of bridge deck

Care for the environment

From the start, the SPC, Golden Crossing Constructors (BBPI and CH2M Hill) took an environmentally responsible approach to the design and construction of the project. In addition, TransLink has made specific and detailed commitments to the government authorities responsible for fisheries and the environment.

The main bridge is designed to minimize impacts on marine habitat, and the 2006-2009 construction schedule was developed to account for the migratory and breeding cycles of mammals, birds and fish.

Wherever feasible, bridge components were produced and preassembled off site, then floated into the area by barges on the Fraser River. This shortened the construction schedule and reduced disruption to wildlife as well as to recreational and commercial users of the river.