Rock Creek Canyon Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Rock Creek Canyon Bridge is a large, multi-span, steel truss bridge on the Crowsnest Highway
over Rock Creek Canyon
in British Columbia
. Originally built in 1951, the structure was widened and strengthened in 1992. Carrying two lanes of vehicular traffic, the bridge is 286 metres long and stands 91 metres above Rock Creek.
, it crosses Rock Creek
between its confluence with two of its tributaries, McKinney Creek and Baker Creek. At the west end of the bridge is the start of the road to the Mount Baldy Ski Area
.
In the early 1990s, the government of British Columbia, responsible for the upkeep of Rock Creek Canyon Bridge, reviewed it and decided that the structure was not wide enough to cope with modern traffic. Instead of replacing the bridge altogether, significant alterations to the bridge were made in 1992, a much less expensive option. The capacity of the structure was increased to comply with more rigorous and up-to-date design codes. The deck was widened, from 7.3 metres (24 ft) to 10 metres (32.8 ft), and was made of composite steel and concrete. Additionally, some seismic improvements were undertaken and the bridge was repainted. These works were designed and supervised by Buckland and Taylor Ltd, a bridge engineering firm, and the project was delivered on time and under budget. The construction works were phased, keeping one lane open at all times to minimise the traffic disruption that a full closure would cause.
Crowsnest Highway
The Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is an east-west highway, in length, through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and...
over Rock Creek Canyon
Rock Creek (British Columbia)
Rock Creek is a creek in the Boundary Country region of British Columbia. This creek is the most renowned placer gold creek in the Boundary Country. It was discovered in 1859 by a Canadian named Adam Beam. Rock Creek was originally called York Creek. Beam earned $977 in the first six weeks he...
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Originally built in 1951, the structure was widened and strengthened in 1992. Carrying two lanes of vehicular traffic, the bridge is 286 metres long and stands 91 metres above Rock Creek.
Location
Situated about halfway between Osoyoos & Rock CreekRock Creek, British Columbia
Rock Creek is an unincorporated settlement in the Boundary Country of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Located at the confluence of the Kettle River with the eponymous Rock Creek, site of the Rock Creek Gold Rush of 1860, the community also lies at the junction of British...
, it crosses Rock Creek
Rock Creek (British Columbia)
Rock Creek is a creek in the Boundary Country region of British Columbia. This creek is the most renowned placer gold creek in the Boundary Country. It was discovered in 1859 by a Canadian named Adam Beam. Rock Creek was originally called York Creek. Beam earned $977 in the first six weeks he...
between its confluence with two of its tributaries, McKinney Creek and Baker Creek. At the west end of the bridge is the start of the road to the Mount Baldy Ski Area
Mount Baldy Ski Area
Mount Baldy is a small ski resort overlooking the Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia just north of the border Washington state. Its road access is via McKinney Road from Oliver and from BC Highway 3 north of Bridesville and BC Highway 33 west of Rock Creek, in the Boundary Country...
.
Alterations
The original stringer-supported bridge was constructed in 1951. It was designed to comply with the HS20 design codes released by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which were current at the time.In the early 1990s, the government of British Columbia, responsible for the upkeep of Rock Creek Canyon Bridge, reviewed it and decided that the structure was not wide enough to cope with modern traffic. Instead of replacing the bridge altogether, significant alterations to the bridge were made in 1992, a much less expensive option. The capacity of the structure was increased to comply with more rigorous and up-to-date design codes. The deck was widened, from 7.3 metres (24 ft) to 10 metres (32.8 ft), and was made of composite steel and concrete. Additionally, some seismic improvements were undertaken and the bridge was repainted. These works were designed and supervised by Buckland and Taylor Ltd, a bridge engineering firm, and the project was delivered on time and under budget. The construction works were phased, keeping one lane open at all times to minimise the traffic disruption that a full closure would cause.