Contract for new Donald Bridge awarded near Golden

Flatiron is currently constructing the foundations for the new Donald Bridge, as well as clearing and grubbing the new alignment for Highway #1.

Scope of Work:

• Four-lane wide x 300-metre long steel girder bridge over the Columbia River
• Four-lane wide x 130-metre long steel girder bridge over the Canadian Pacific Railway
• 3.5 kilometres of new four-lane highway construction on the Trans Canada Highway
• 2.5 kilometres of new local road construction
• Demolition of the two existing bridge structures

Once completed, the structure will replace the existing Donald Bridge and greatly improve a notoriously dangerous section of the Trans Canada Highway. The new structures and highway improvements will remove sharp curves and create a four-lane divided highway with a safer alignment and reduce the amount of accidents in the area.

Here are some interesting facts and techniques to be used on the project:

• The new Donald Bridge will have a 90-metre steel girder main span over the Columbia River
• Erection of the steel girders will require temporary access out into the Columbia River
• The geology of the area requires a variety of foundation types within the Donald Bridge structure, including: spread footings for abutments; drilled casings and rock-sockets up to 30 metres deep; driven pipe piles up 80 metres deep and demolition of two 50-year steel girder bridges.

The project is scheduled to be completed in December, 2012.