Abstract Manager

Existing Pattullo Bridge over Fraser River in greater Vancouver area was built in 1937 to carry vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the City of Surrey and New Westminster. Over the period, it has become difficult to drive on its existing narrow lanes without median barrier. Moreover, the Existing Pattullo Bridge does not meet the current seismic standards. The Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project is a solution to all the above-mentioned problems. Surrey MUP Bridge is a vital component of the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project. Its primary function is to enable the movement of pedestrians and cyclists between the New Fraser River Bridge and ground level beneath the New Fraser River Bridge. It is an 11 span 4.0m wide Multiple User Path (MUP) Bridge in an area full of geotechnical and environmental constraints.  Due to significant drop in elevation required in limited available space, Surrey MUP Bridge is a 2-level composite steel girder bridge which spirals over multiple concrete piers supported by steel pipe piles. This paper discusses the challenges faced during design and construction of this unique structure due to its extremely irregular geometry, proximity to existing Pattullo Bridge and soils with potential to liquefaction and settlement. Moreover, Surrey MUP Bridge superstructure had to share piers with two adjacent bridges due to archeological reasons. Finite element analysis of Surrey MUP Bridge was performed for its design and to check its seismic interaction with two other bridges sharing piers with it. An EPS embankment was proposed past abutment due to potentially settleable subgrade soils. All of this led to achieving a constructable solution for this bridge, hence meeting project functional requirements.