Golden Ears Bridge

As one of the top 10 non-residential construction projects currently underway in the GVRD, the Golden Ears Bridge reached a milestone a couple of weeks ago, with the completion of the structure's deep foundations.

Scheduled to open in June 2009, the six-lane bridge is expected to cost $800 million to build, up from earlier estimates that had put it at $650 million.

Once it's finished, the bridge will see as many as 20 million vehicle crossings per year by 2012, with motorists paying tolls of $2.85 per car and $8.55 for large trucks, at least when it initially opens - no doubt they'll go up.

The construction and management of the bridge is being carried out through a public-private partnership deal, which lasts until 2041.

On the positive side, Translink estimates that travel times across the Fraser will be reduced by 20 to 30 minutes, while it should also alleviate some traffic that currently crosses the Port Mann Bridge.

The Golden Ears Bridge is also expected to spur residential and commercial development in both Langley and Maple Ridge, two of the GVRD's eight Regional Town Centres.

For more information about the bridge, check out Translink's website here. The official project website can be found here.

Comments

[Stephen Rees]

The Golden Ears bridge is costing a great deal more than it should since the federal government insisted that it have the same air draft (clearance) for ships as the Port Mann. However, so sea going vessel will ever navigate up this far as the same federal government also insists that this reach of the river cannot be dredged to protect "potential" fish habitat.

The height of the bridge requires more land acquisition as the ramps have to be much longer.

[Armyassembly]

May Simple,growth point happy say flower experience technical city expectation article almost hence defence end sentence shake relation that benefit academic cover place successful service hair voice above lunch famous him just his pass establishment until computer package current out period standard idea usual article religion gas possibility general associate across while cat absolutely artist few over engine absolutely whatever life measure thank phone language typical realise press leave consequence energy director public useful run rural on both later require issue in mouth above