It's nice to see the painted arrows on the lanes heading eastbound to address the Surrey off ramp issue. For daily commuters like me, it's old news, but for the people who cross once in a while, it combined with the signs above is good.

I guess we can't make fun of Chinese construction...........

On the way home today, I went by the Port Mann. I noticed a weird sight. The blue crane that carries the concrete sections along the new bridge as it progresses, looked a bit tilted. I was wondering why. The end that was tipped down didn't look right. It looked like the supports underneath were bent out of shape. Sure enough, when I get home wife asked me if I noticed something weird about the new bridge today. I told her yeah, the blue crane was looking all wrong. Watched the news just now and the crane had collapsed on one end and one of the sections of the bridge in now at the bottom of the river. LOLOLOLOLOL

Looks like someone screwed up royally. It's under investigation, but they don't know what went wrong.

Bridge Building Fail!

^ Just saw that as well.

I'm wondering how the segment ended up in the river. Did they simply "release" it and purposely let it fall when the crane started to tile (like a quick-release coupling for emergencies)? Or did the operator "let off the brake" and let it fall pulling out cable as fast as it could?

I don't think it's that big of a deal. Sounds to me like they followed procedures and ended up with no injuries and no serious damage.

Port Mann Crane Pics

Good to hear they're going to recover the slab. I just hope they already sent a diver down there to see how far it's sticking up and are directing vessels around it. I would suck if a heavily loaded barge went over it at low tide.

Any section of water they're working over would be closed to marine traffic..

I hope "recover" means removing it and scrapping it. I'd hate to think they plan on reusing it for the bridge.

I would imagine it would undergo intense inspection before they thought of re-using it. Unless it hit something on the way down, I wouldn't expect there'd be much damage... water certainly wouldn't hurt it.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/531...?size=620x400s

really shows how much bigger the new bridge is than the old one. wow.

I would suspect it was probably at least moderately damaged by the initial impact with the river. When an object strikes water at speed surface tension becomes a powerful force.

That would depend on the angle it hit - corner vs. flat surface impact = pike vs. belly flop.

Does anyone know how long it will take for the tolls to make enough to pay for the project? A link would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :D

i think things like bridge sections are considered quite fragile under any load in which they were not designed. and even in transport and install they are fragile. i think (from watching megabuilders hah) once the sections are in place, they are sinched together with cables and that is where they get their strength.

so regardless of how it fell, its integrity may be compromised.


i wish there was some video of it. that is a massive failure and must have been a hell of a sight.

Wonder if the EarthCam cameras caught any of it? EarthCam Construction Camera - British Columbia Port Mann / Highway 1 Project

40 years.

When I'm 74, I intend to drive my flying car across that bad boy like a boss.

If they tolled the original bridge at that price they would be replacing it by the time it was fully paid for. It will be 50 years old by the time it will be taken apart. This city is plagued with poor road infrastructure from the 60's. I really hope the next big project is replacing the pattulo bridge. Then re designing the knight street bridge. The whole situation on the vancouver side is mental.

Here is my depiction of what it should be like. 9000 hours spent in ms paint+4000 hours spent playing sim city 4. Obviously I'm not an expert.
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/8638/schematics.jpg

Just in case you haven't heard, the off ramp to 152nd, Surrey is now back to normal (right hand side) and will be this way from now on.

There's supposed to be lots of signs to indicate the change, but I go into autopilot mode when driving to work. Saw people using it and the traffic wasn't bad.

Anyway, for the first time ever, the laser warning on my 9500ix went off right at the toll camera area. I guess there's some kind of laser system being setup? Damn, not long before they finish the new bridge and start tolling.

Tolling, not :troll: lol.

I'm so tempted to fail you for bringing that up to me first thing in the morning :(

FUCK:rukidding:

^now why would you fail a good friend..............

That's the only reason why I didn't :D

Haha they changed it back? It felt weird exiting to the left :lol

..........like fapping with the other hand.

hahahahaha you always crack me up MG1

Laser jammer = no toll? :troll:

I'll prolly be getting one of these

FLIPAPLATE.COM License Plate Flippers

New bridge opens to 3 lanes of eastbound traffic on September 18