GOLDEN EARS BRIDGE

Aesthetic Theme
Rooted in History

The people of the Fraser Valley live in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world – a terrain of forests, meadows, watercourses and majestic mountains.

The Golden Crossing Constructors Joint Venture recognizes the importance of the Golden Ears Bridge project to people in this region, and so we have adopted design themes that pay tribute to local history and geography.

The Golden Ears peaks look down on the bridge from the north. There are several explanations for the origin of the term “Golden Ears.” By one local account, "Golden Ears" is a modification of “Golden Aeries”, referring to the nests of the eagles that thrive on Canada’s Pacific coast.

The eagle has been chosen as a symbol for the bridge, and will be displayed on project signs and on the bridge towers.

The design theme also recognizes First Nations and their relationship to the land through the inclusion of “fish trap” fences and specially designed lanterns along the roadway. The planting of native trees, shrubs and grasses will build a sense of harmony along the corridor and help to integrate the facility within the region.

The design theme also recognizes First Nations and their relationship to the land through the inclusion of “fish trap” fences and specially designed lanterns along the roadway.

Construction Milestones

The Golden Ears Bridge project is an initiative of TransLink, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority. The scheduled opening date for the bridge is mid-2009. The timing of all construction activities is subject to permitting and approval by government authorities.

This page was revised on May 16, 2007.

April 2006

- Golden Crossing Constructors Joint Venture begins pre-construction activity with test work north and south of the Fraser River.

June 27, 2006

- Joint Venture, TransLink and Golden Crossing General Partnership officially launch construction activity.

Spring to Fall 2006

- Survey work to establish construction corridor.

Summer 2006

- Work begins to build the project's main bridge, in the Fraser River – soil densification in preparation for pile boring.
- Clearing for Golden Ears Route begins in the Unnamed Creek area, west Port Kells (Surrey), and the Westcon area between Telegraph Trail and 199A Street along the south side of the Canadian National rail tracks.
- Start of preloading for northern connector road, Maple Ridge.

Fall 2006

- Piling in the river at the southern most bridge pier site. This work then moves from south to north across four pier sites.
- Start of preparatory work for overpasses of the Golden Ears Route at the Trans-Canada Highway and Barnston Drive, Surrey.
- Start of piling for Westcon elevated roadway, Surrey/Langley border.

Late 2006

- Completion of piling at Westcon; columns and abutments appearing.
- Start of piling for north bridge approach, Maple Ridge.
- Clearing for new connecting road from 201 Street to 199A Street, Langley.
- Clearing for Lougheed Highway Interchange, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows border.

Early 2007

- Start of piling for south approach to main bridge, Langley.
- Start of northwest Langley road improvements --201 Street upgrades and connecting route from 199A Street to 200 Street.
- Clearing in the Anniedale section of the Golden Ears mainline route(Trans Canada to 176 Street, Surrey).
- Drainage work for the Lougheed Highway Interchange, Pitt Meadows.
- Start of improvements to 96 Avenue between Telegraph Trail and 201 Street, Langley.

Spring 2007

- Opening of 201 Street to 199A Street Connector, Northwest Langley; implementation of one-way traffic loop on 201, 199A and 200 Streets.
- First girders at Westcon overpass, Langley.
- Start of improvements to 192 Street, Surrey.
- Utility work and earthworks on Golden Ears mainline, 176 Street to 182 Street, Surrey, plus pattern changes to the Anniedale street network
- Start of piling for the south bridge approach, 201 Street North, Langley.
- Completion of main bridge piling work, Fraser River; in-river construction schedule shifts from 24 hours per day to daytime hours.
- Major utility relocation for the Northern Connector between 113B Avenue and the south end of Maple Meadows Way, Maple Ridge
- Clearing for the Abernethy Connector western section, Lougheed to 203 Street, Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge

Summer 2007

- Earthworks continue, 176 Street to Trans Canada, Surrey
- Resume construction forthe Trans Canada and Barnston Drive overpasses of the Golden Ears Route
- Earthworks, Golden Ears mainline, 192 Street to Telegraph Trail
- Begin piling for 199A Street off ramp, Langley
- Begin piling for 201 Street on ramp, Langley
- Begin girder installation for south bridge approach near 100A Avenue, Langley
- Completion of north bridge approach precast piling, Maple Ridge
- Reconstruct Dunn Avenue, Maple Ridge.
- Clearing for Meadowtown Viaduct, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows border and construction road to Lougheed Highway
- Start of piling for Meadowtown Viaduct, Canadian Pacific Rail overpass and Lougheed Highway overpass, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows border
- Complete road base for Abernethy Connector west of 203 street; begin preloading west of 210 Street

Fall 2007

- Implement street network changes in Anniedale neighbourhood (Surrey) and paveGolden Ears Routefrom 176 Street to 182 Street
- Begin reconstruction of Trans-Canada Highway sections to create overpasses of the Golden Ears Route
- Earthwork and roadwork for 96 Avenue to mainline connector, Surrey
- Begin widening of 200 Street from 92A Avenue to Chevron station, Langley
- Completepiling for 201 Street on ramp and 199A Street off ramp, Langley
- Construction on southernmost in-river tower reaches deck level
- Haul 100,000 cubic metres of fill to create base forLougheed Highway interchange
- Install monopile foundations for Lougheed Highway overpass
- Closure of Maple Meadows Way from Dunn Avenue to 200 Street to allow major utility relocation, road work and construction of off ramp

Winter 2007-2008

- First bridge deck panels placed
- First bridge deck stay cables placed
- Completion of first bridge tower
- Complete foundations for Highway 1 and Barnston overpasses
- Place first girders for Highway 1 and Barnston overpasses
- Open new 199A Street to 200 Street connector, Langley
- Complete girder installation, south bridge approach plus south on and off ramps
- Begin girder installation, north bridge approach
- Piling and earthworks for 113B Avenue/Airport Way interchange, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows
- Complete foundations for Meadowtown Viaduct
- Columns and crossbeams, CP Rail overpass
- Piling for Maple Meadows Way off ramp

Spring 2008

- Close first span of main bridge, from tower M2 in Fraser River to tower M2 on land
- Complete deck panel installation for south bridge approach and ramps, Langley
- Complete girder installation, north approach
- Begin girder installation, Meadowtown viaduct
- Begin piling for bridge at un-named creek, Surrey
- Completion of Westcon overpass, Surrey/Langley
- Widening and improvements, 201 Street North (under south approach), Langley
- Construction of Hammond Road/Maple Meadows Way roundabout
- Piling for Lougheed Highway off ramp to Meadowtown viaduct
- Complete road base for Abernethy connector, 203 Street to 210 Street

Summer 2008

- Close second span of main bridge deck between towers M2 and M3
- Girder installation over Lougheed Highway
- Complete paving of mainline, 186 Street to Telegraph Trail, Surrey
- Telegraph Trail realignment, Langley
- Completion of 199A Street off ramp and 201 Street on ramp decks, Langley
- Completion of south bridge approach deck, Langley
- Improvements at 210 Street and 132 Avenue intersection, Maple Ridge
- Bicycle and pedestrian path construction, Surrey and Pitt Meadows

Fall 2008

- Completion of mainline, Surrey
- Completion of Barnston and Trans-Canada Highway overpasses, Surrey
- Completion of north bridge approach deck, Maple Ridge
- Completion of northern connector roadway from main bridge to CP Rail, Maple Ridge
- Completion of CP Rail overpass deck
- Completion of 113B Avenue interchange, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows
- Completion of Lougheed Highway interchange and deck for Lougheed Highway off ramp to Meadowtown Viaduct, Pitt Meadows
- Completion of Abernethy Connector

Late 2008/Early 2009/Spring 2009

- Completion of bridge at un-named creek, Surrey
- Completion of main bridge deck
- Installation of main bridge lighting and signage,with full operation to begin in summer 2009.
- Completion of Meadowtown Viaduct and Maple Meadows Way off ramp