Fraser Highway Bridge Replacement at Nicomekl River

The replacement of the old Fraser Highway Bridge, constructed in 1960, provided a unique opportunity for the City of Langley to achieve significant environmental benefits on the Nicomekl River.  Removal of approximately 50 creosote treated piles supporting the old bridge benefited water quality in the Nicomekl River, while the replacement clear span bridge provided improved hydraulic performance.

To minimize environmental impacts of raising the road elevation, over 5,600 kinnickinnick plantings were placed on the retained slope fills.  As the plantings mature, the slope will be fully vegetated, blending in with the natural surroundings. The slope plantings were considered in the environmental compensation areas reviewed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, allowing the compensation commitments to be achieved with a smaller project footprint. The old bridge provided a single travel lane in each direction and a narrow sidewalk on the south side that was inaccessible to wheelchairs or strollers.  The new bridge provides two travel lanes in each direction plus a westbound left turn lane, 2.0m wide bike lanes, and sidewalks on both sides separated from the vehicle traffic by parapets/barriers. A new traffic signal at Fraser Highway and Old Yale Road will also improve traffic operations and safety.

As the lead Design Consultant for the Tyam Design-Build Team, Binnie coordinated the structural, geotechnical, electrical and environmental consultants.  The synergy between the design and construction personnel resulted in innovative strategies for delivering the project in accordance with the City of Langley’s requirements, while optimizing constructability and minimizing costs.  In addition to the design team coordination, Binnie provided road and utility design, traffic engineering, survey, and overall quality management.  During construction, the design team continued its involvement by investigating potential value engineering solutions with Tyam, and responding to the Owner’s requests for incorporating other value-added enhancements in the project.