No. 2 Road Bridge

The No. 2 Road Bridge is a crossing over the middle arm of the Fraser River, and River Rd., in Metro Vancouver.

No. 2 Road Bridge
Coordinates	49°10′34.74″N 123°9′25.03″W
Carries	Four lanes of No. 2 Road, pedestrians and bicycles
Crosses	Middle Arm Fraser River
Locale	Richmond
Maintained by	City of Richmond
Characteristics
Design	girder bridge
Total length	560 m
Width	22 m
History
Opened	July 11, 1993

History

No. 2 Road Bridge

During the planning stage, the creation of additional intertidal marsh and riparian woodlands compensated for the project-related impact upon the intertidal basin. Over subsequent decades, the enclosed 3,500-square-metre constructed marsh and adjacent natural marshes, along the southern shoreline, have proven effective in protecting the plant, fish and wildlife habitat.[1]

The City of Richmond funded the $39m construction using debt, existing reserves, and a $5m provincial grant. The scheme was the biggest capital project the city had undertaken to that point.[2] The city paid the final loan installment in 2013.[3] The span connects Lulu Island with Sea Island, home to Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

At the official opening ceremony in July 1993, Art Charbonneau, the provincial Minister of Transportation and Highways, unveiled a plaque, and Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt cut the ribbon. After pedestrians walked, jogged or ran the span, cars crossed a few hours later.[4] No doubt, John Miller, principal of JJM Group, the prime contactor, would have been present.[5] A public survey chose the bland name. Although some suggestions at the time, and since, preferred to honour a public figure,[2] any consensus could prove difficult.

The city owns and maintains[6] this low-level four-lane bridge, having bicycle lanes and a wide, separated sidewalk. On the north bank, a trail passing beneath the bridge connects the sidewalks. On the south bank, a pedestrian ramp on the west side connects with the dyke trail below.[2] The sequential box-girder, prestress, post-tension structure is 560 metres (1,840 ft) long and 22 metres (72 ft) wide, supported by 10 spans resting on 217 prestressed concrete piles.[7] The relatively low profile provides a seamless flow with connecting roads and avoids interference with seaplane traffic, that usually flies westward, low over the bridge, before landing and taxiing to the Middle Arm terminal. A mayoral rival to Halsey-Brandt had campaigned for a less expensive, two-lane span.[2]

From Russ Baker Way, the route provides direct access to No. 2 Rd., and easier access to points further west. Formerly, this traffic would divert southeast across the Dinsmore Bridge, follow a rightward curve along Gilbert Rd., and a leftward curve along Elmbridge Way, before west on Westminster Highway. The new crossing transferred most traffic from the congested Dinsmore.[2]

South bank redevelopment

At the time of bridge construction, the city seemed unaware of the development potential of its vacant land that stretched to Hollybridge Way. An RV park leased the eastern portion until 2004.[8] Prior to the Richmond Olympic Oval development, River Rd., free of interrupting intersections, was a popular thoroughfare. To offset the oval development costs, the city sold 18.6 acres of riverfront land in early 2007 for $141m. That year, the city realigned this section of River Rd. away from the foreshore.[9]

The planned and completed private development high-rises, called River Green, encompass over 27 acres of shoreline property with unobstructed river views.[10] The four-lane River Rd. between Hollybridge Way and Gilbert Rd. will extend to Capstan Way. However, west of the Oval, the two lanes, the sharp turn from No. 2 Rd., and the sharp S-bend leading beneath the bridge, have a temporary appearance. The underside clearance of 4.0 metres (13.1 ft) is the lowest of any in Richmond.[11] Perhaps the city envisages an overpass at No. 2 Rd. taking River Rd. to a junction with Lynas Lane, thereby transforming the existing foreshore road into a green space.

No. 2 Road North pump station

Richmond, about one metre (3.3 ft) metre above sea level, requires drainage and flood protection for businesses, agriculture and over 200,000 residents. The city manages 49 kilometres (30 mi) of dykes; 39 drainage pump stations with a combined pumping capacity of over one million gallons per minute; and over 800 kilometres (500 mi) of ditches and storm sewers. Built in 1974, the previous station, with a 1.9 cubic metres (2.5 cu yd) capacity, was near the end of its useful life, and needed an upgrade to 4.7 cubic metres (6.2 cu yd).

The city sought a design that drew attention and engaged the public, with an emphasis on interpretive components, public space and local art. The transparent design of the replacement station, using the existing concrete wet well structure beside the southwestern part of the bridge, allows the public to view the complicated pumping machinery. The Public Works Association of B.C. chose this station for the 2018 Project of the Year award.[12][13]

Transit

Ongoing routes, former routes, and closest stops

No TransLink services currently use the bridge. The 2009 opening of the Canada Line has funneled all west Richmond passengers to Richmond–Brighouse station.

The following route briefly used the bridge:

• 411 Steveston / Vancouver (Apr 2000 rerouted from Dinsmore Bridge;[14] April 2001 renumbered 491, and changed to Dinsmore Bridge)[15]

0Prior to the end of transit services upon the Dinsmore Bridge in September 2009, closures or restrictions may have required temporary diversions to the No. 2 Rd. Bridge.[16]

About 150 metres along Inglis Dr., the nearest Sea Island bus stop is on the following route,:[17]

• 412 Bridgeport Station /Sea Island South (Aug 2018 renumbered)[18]
  0C92 Sea Island South / Bridgeport Station (Sep 2009 eastern terminus)[19]
  0C92 Sea Island South / Airport Station (c. May 2005 renumbered and renamed)[20][21]
  0425 Airport South / Airport Station (Apr 2001 eastern terminus)[15]0
  0425 Airport South / Richmond Exchange (May 1984 renamed)[22]
  0425 Sea Island (commencement unclear)

On River Rd. at Brighouse Way, the nearest south side bus stop is on the following route:[17]

• 414 Richmond Oval / Richmond-Brighouse Station (Aug 2018 renumbered)[18]
  0C94 Richmond Oval / Richmond-Brighouse Station (Sep 2009)[19][23]

See also

• List of crossings of the Fraser River
• List of BC bridges

Footnotes

1. "No.2 Road Bridge Middle Arm Intertidal Marsh". www.envirowest.ca.
2. "Richmond News, 18 Mar 2016". www.richmond-news.com.
3. "Richmond Annual Report, 2013" (PDF). www.richmond.ca. p. 10.
4. Dawe 1996, pp. 70–71.
5. "Invitation to John Miller". www.archives.richmond.ca.
6. "YVR 2037 Master Plan Phase 2" (PDF). www.yvr.ca.
7. Dawe 1996, p. 72.
8. "Richmond RV Park". www.steveston.bc.ca.
9. "Richmond Annual Report, 2007" (PDF). www.richmond.ca. pp. 19, 32 & 36.
10. "River Green". www.aspac.ca.
11. "Height restrictions, Richmond". www.richmond.ca.
12. "No. 2 Road North Drainage Pump Station upgrade" (PDF). www.pwabc.ca.
13. "Pump Station public works award". www.canada.constructconnect.com.
14. "The Buzzer, 31 Mar 2000" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink.
15. "The Buzzer, 30 Mar 2001" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink. Bus strike Apr–Aug
16. "CKNW News, 13 Oct 2006". www.cknw.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
17. "Bus routes". www.translink.ca.
18. "Buzzer blog, 30 Aug 2018". www.translink.ca. TransLink.
19. "The Buzzer, Canada Line opening, 4 Sep 2009". www.translink.ca. TransLink.
20. "TransLink route map, c. May 2005". www.researchgate.net.
21. "The Buzzer, 1 Sep 2006" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink.
22. "The Buzzer, 25 May 1984" (PDF). www.translink.ca. Metro Transit.
23. "Buzzer blog, 9 Dec 2009". www.translink.ca. TransLink.

References

• Dawe, Alan (1996). Richmond and its Bridges. City of Richmond Archives. ISBN 0-9690031-2-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)