The bridge over the river Columbia

A new four-lane bridge—scheduled for completion in December 2012—is under construction near Golden

Rick Morrison with Flatiron Construction Corp. surveys the area where crews are pouring concrete. — Trevor Crawley photo

Canada’s premier highway system is getting an upgrade, with the addition of a new four-lane overpass spanning the Columbia River and a CPR rail line. This upgrade project is happening 26 kilometres west of Golden, B.C. Ground broke in February 2011 and crews have started altering the landscape with heavy equipment to prepare for the construction of the new bridge and to accommodate a four-lane expansion.

 After 50 years, the existing Donald Bridge is nearing the end of its life expectancy; the Canadian division of Flatiron Construction Corp. was awarded the $63-million replacement contract by the provincial government.

There are many steps and challenges the company has to manage to ensure the job is done the right way in time for the scheduled December 2012 completion date. Crews are currently building three types of foundations for piers and abutments: spread footings, drilled cast-in-place concrete rock sockets and driven steel pipe piles.

Cranes will erect the superstructure of the bridge, consisting of steel girders and a cast-in-place concrete deck. Approximately 35,000 bolts will be used to fasten steel girders and bracing together, at which point Flatiron will install formwork and pour the concrete deck.

All the work taking place at the site has factored in environmental concerns over the Columbia River, said Rick Morrison, the project manager with Flatiron.

“Everyone on the project has a responsibility to ensure that construction activities do not harm the environmentally sensitive areas of the project,” he said.

Flatiron has brought in many subcontractors for supplies and support in various aspects of the project. A few examples include highway hauling, landscaping and rebar installation.

Morrison and Flatiron have plenty of experience working on roads and bridges, reflected by the completion of two steel girder bridges in northern Alberta.

The new bridge will make the route safer and more efficient for transporting goods between B.C. and Alberta, said Shirley Bond, former B.C. transport minister, when she announced the project last year.

“This summer (2010), I met with the mayors of Golden and Revelstoke to discuss improving the safety, reliability and travel times on Highway 1,” said Bond. “Replacing the Donald Bridge with a new four-lane structure is part of our commitment to improving safety on this important corridor."