Time-lapse captures dismantling of Canadian bridge.
The old Port Mann Bridge has been completely dismantled and demolition work is now complete.
As part of the new Trans-Canada Highway, this iconic bridge spanned the Fraser River between Surrey and Coquitlam in British Columbia and opened in 1964.
The construction of the new 10 lane Port Mann Bridge required dismantling the old bridge, and work to remove the structure began in December 2012.
Sections of the bridge were removed, piece-by-piece, in reverse order to how it was constructed. Crews started with the deck, then the girders on the bridge’s approach. Removing the steel arch began in spring 2014 and concluded in summer 2015.
All that remains of the original bridge are two concrete pedestals, or footings. One remains on the western tip of Tree Island, and the other on the southern bank of the Fraser River. Both were left in place because they contribute to shoreline stability and provide habitat for fish and wildlife.
