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6 Types of BC
Bridges
Identified

Dry Gulch Bridge on BC Highway 5 is a steel arch

bridge.

According to the dictionary, a

bridge is: “a structure carrying a
road, path, railroad or canal across a
river, ravine, road, railroad or other
obstacle”.

That’s a basic and accurate

description of a bridge to be sure, but
here at the Ministry of Transportation
and Infrastructure, we think of
bridges as something more than just
a structure crossing a span. We think
of bridges as a special type of
infrastructure. Bridges inspire.
Bridges open possibilities. Bridges
connect. To us, bridges are a pretty
big deal.

Because British Columbia is so

geographically diverse and because
bridge engineering evolves over time,
you will see a variety of bridge types
being used in BC. In order to span a
crossing, a bridge must have support.
That support system can be above or
below the bridge deck. Bridges can be
constructed out of steel, wood, metal
or concrete or a combination of these
materials. With these basic ideas in
mind, we would like to introduce you
to some general types of bridges used
in BC.

1. Suspension

This is a type of bridge in which the

weight of the deck is supported by
vertical cables suspended from larger
cables that run between towers and
are anchored in abutments at each
end.

Hudson’s Hope Bridge is a beautiful example of a

suspension style bridge. Built in 1964, this bridge is
located on Highway 29 west of Fort St. John.
Suspension bridges use cables to support the
bridge deck along the span.

Built in 1938, the iconic Lions Gate Bridge is the

most recognizable bridge in BC and another
excellent example of a suspension bridge.

2.Truss Bridges

A truss is a structure built out of

tension and compression sections.
These sections are arranged in
triangular patterns to provide
strength and stability. A truss bridge is
a bridge with a load carrying
superstructure made of trusses. Truss
bridges are generally made from
either steel or timber or a
combination of both. Trusses can be
presented on top of the bridge deck (a
“through” truss) or under the bridge
deck (an “under” truss).

The Oyster River Bridge near Campbell River on

Vancouver Island is a timber “through” truss
bridge. Basically, this is a bridge with a timber truss
which you drive through.

The Bell Irving River Bridge is a steel truss bridge.

Like the Oyster River Bridge, you drive through the
trusses, but in this example, those trusses are
constructed of steel instead of timber. If you look
closely at this image, you will notice that this
bridge has a metal deck used to reduce the weight
of the bridge. The Bell Irving River Bridge was
constructed in 1967 and is located about 100 km
north of Cranberry Junction on Highway 37.

The Simon Fraser Bridge, built in 1963, is a deck

over steel truss bridge which with an arch shaped
bottom profile spans the Fraser River in Prince
George. It was twinned with a second bridge in
2009.

An interesting and artistic perspective of the steel

“under” truss of the Simon Fraser Bridge.

St Marys Wycliffe

St. Mary’s Wycliffe Bridge, built in 1931, is a lovely

example of a timber bridge with trestle spans and
a deck over a timber truss support.

3. Arch Bridges

Are steel or concrete bridges

constructed in the form of an arch or
arches, typically with concrete
abutments.

Big Qualicum cropped

Big Qualicum Bridge is concrete arch bridge with

concrete girders located along Highway 19 on
Vancouver Island.

Dry Gulch 2

Dry Gulch Bridge on Highway 5 is a steel arch

bridge.

Chilcotin Bridge

Chilcotin Bridge — like the Dry Gulch Bridge

(featured further above), the Chilcotin Bridge
(located in the Cariboo region) is another classic
example of a steel arch bridge. Unlike Dry Gulch
Bridge, this arch uses a truss configuration. This
bridge is also known locally as “Sheep Creek
Bridge.”

Culliton Bridge crop

The Culliton Bridge is a tied steel arch with the arch

above the bridge deck. Built in 1983 it is located on
Highway 99, also known as the Sea to Sky.

4. Cable Stayed Bridges

A cable stayed bridge has one or more

towers from which cables support the
deck.

Pitt River Bridge

The Pitt River Bridge, constructed in 2010, is an

elegant example of a cable stayed bridge. Other
examples of cable stayed bridges in B.C. include
the new Port Mann Bridge and the Alex Fraser
Bridge. All three are located in the lower mainland.

5. Girder Bridge

A bridge constructed with wood, steel

or concrete girders.

Park Bridge

The Park Bridge (the inspiration for our TranBC

logo) is a curved steel girder bridge on concrete
piers. Constructed in 2007, it is located on BC
highway 1 12 km east of Golden.

Another type of bridge which often goes unnoticed

but is actually a very common bridge type in BC is
the overpass. This is the Bostock Road Overpass,
located on the Trans-Canada Highway in Kamloops.
This bridge is made up of pre-stressed concrete
box beams and supported on mechanically
stabilized earth wall abutments.

This stunning structure is called Kiskatinaw Bridge.

Located in the Peace region, it is a steel frame
bridge built in 1978.

07015 Large Creek Bridge Image 2

Built in 2010 on Vancouver Island, Large Creek

Bridge is constructed out of glulam timber girders.
Glulam is glue laminated timber, a structural
timber made out of a number of layers of timber
bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant
adhesive.

6. Floating Bridge

These bridges are sometimes called

pontoon bridges and they really do
float.

Floating Bridge

The William R. Bennett Bridge on Highway 97

across Okanagan Lake was completed in 2008 and
is one of only a few floating bridges in the world.
The crossing is about 1060m long of which 700m
are on floating concrete pontoons. The structure
has five lanes plus an elevated span to allow
passage of marine traffic.

So, now you know some of the basic

types of bridges in British Columbia,
you can amaze your friends and
family with your new found
knowledge on your next road trip.
Looking for more information on a
bridge, or type of bridge which we
didn’t cover here? Let us know in the
comments below.

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Page 1 of 45 comments on “6
Types of BC Bridges
Identified”

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harry payne
January 12, 2022 at 1:28 pm

Hello.
What is year northbound
and southbound bridge
built in Campbell River on
Highway 19 and what is
Correct clearance metres
on the southbound truss
bridge?

Thank you!

Reply

tranbceditor
January 18, 2022 at 1:30 pm

Hello Harry – thanks for

your question. We have
sent it to our staff in the
area and will let you
know what we hear back.

Reply

tranbceditor
January 27, 2022 at 1:20 pm

Hello Harry,

Looks like we’ve

answered this one before
(in June 2021). In case
you missed our response
then here it is: The
southbound structure
was built in 1952 and the
northbound was
completed in 1998. The
minimum clearance
through the southbound
bridge is 5.82 meters.

Currently there are no

plans to install clearance
signs on this structure, as
our standard for
placement of overhead
warning or clearance
signs as outlined in
Chapter 3 of the Manual
of Standard Traffic Signs
and Pavement Markings,
is for restrictions 5.0
meters or under.

Hope this helps. Safe

travels.

Reply

Harry Payne
January 27, 2022 at 3:16 pm

Hello, MoTI

I Found another history

about the southbound
bridges.

In 1976 they did Modify

the bracing to allow
additional overhead
clearance to allow
truckers to fit the bridge
In 1980 The bridge deck
is resurfaced.

Reply

harry payne
December 2, 2021 at 12:26 pm

Hello.

During the Flooding 2021

What the Bridge name on

Coquihalla Highway were
Collapsed on the River?
How much is cost to
rebuild the collapsed
bridge?

Thank you!

Reply

tranbceditor
December 3, 2021 at 10:13 am

Hi there Harry,

Five bridge structures

were impacted on the
Coquihalla Highway.
Brodie Bridge, Juliet
Bridge, Bottletop Bridge,
Kingsvale East Bridge
and Murray Bridge. Total
costs to repair are not
available at this time.
Hope that this
information is helpful.
Safe travels.

Reply

Shawn Poh
October 26, 2021 at 2:19 pm

Hello TranBC,

May I ask what is the name

of the bridge before Mnt
Sicker in Duncan? It is over
this river and before the
gas station.

Thanks,

Shawn

Reply

tranbceditor
October 27, 2021 at 3:10 pm

Hello Shawn,

Sounds like Chemainus

River Bridges. Hope that
this helps!

Reply

Brook Robazza
February 5, 2021 at 8:17 pm

Great article and beautiful

bridges; thanks for putting
it together. If there is ever
another edition of this
article, you could add
concrete segmental as a
bridge type. Tsable River
Bridge near Buckley Bay on
Vancouver Island is a really
nice example.

Reply

tranbceditor
February 8, 2021 at 2:55 pm

Glad to hear you like it,

Brook! It was a labour of
love.

Reply