Steel truss bridge moved 20 metres in six-hour operation

Vancouver’s old Capilano “blue” Bridge that carries traffic westbound only between the Lions Gate Bridge and Taylor Way in downtown Vancouver is destined to be replaced as part of a $40 million project to enhance Marine Drive around Stanley Park.
However, in June the 1920s-era steel truss bridge was shifted to the north side in order to act as a temporary detour structure while the new bridge is being constructed.
The 350-tonne structure was moved in a six hour operation on June 19-20. The project required building two new approaches and a pier, then adding rails at those three spots along which the bridge could be slid into place. Overall the bridge was shifted around 20 metres.
A time lapse video of the project can be viewed on the B.C. Ministry of Transportation’s website, click here.
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/highwayprojects/Old_Capilano_Bridge/video/Capilano_Bridge_Move_West/index.htmls are available on
Buckland and Taylor are designers of the bridge and helped devise the sliding method for moving the bridge. Urban Systems helped design the approaches for the detour and did the presentation drawings.
The narrow 90-year old bridge carries 25,000 vehicles a day at present. The new bridge will be a three-lane road to reduce traffic congestion and is due to be completed by the end of March 2011.