There are several bridges used by the Trans-Canada highway in and across the Fraser River Valley on its Lower Mainland Route between Vancouver (with its own network of bridges) and Hope.
Port Mann Bridge (Trans-Canada Highway)
The first Port Mann Bridge opened in 1964 with four lanes over 2,093 m (6,867 ft), including approach spans. It connected Surrey on the south bank of the Fraser with Coquitlam on the north bank of the Fraser. It was named after the community of Port Mann, through which the south end of the bridge passed. In 2001, an eastbound HOV lane was added while doing a seismic upgrade, to help it carry 127,000 trips per day.
Originally twinning the old bridge was considered, and then it was decided to replace it with a new a 10-lane cable-stayed replacement bridge, the widest in the world (and demolishing the original bridge). The new Port Mann Bridge, opened in 2012 and carries the Trans-Canada Highway over the Fraser River, with an HOV lane, and cycling and pedestrian access. It was built at a cost of $2.5 billion, including 37 kilometres (23 mi) of Highway 1 upgrade.
The new bridge is 2.02 kilometres (1.26 mi) long, and 65 metres (213 ft) wide to carry 10 lanes of traffic. It has a 42 metres (138 ft) clearance above the river’s high water level (the same length and clearance as the old bridge) and the towers rise 163 metres (535 ft) from top of footing. The main span (between the towers) is 470 metres (1,540 ft) long, the second longest cable-stayed span in the western hemisphere.
To recover construction and operating costs, the bridge is electronically tolled. The toll rates are $1.60 for motorcycle, $3.15 for cars, $6.30 for small trucks and $9.45 for large trucks (2015).
