Burnaby Lake Overpass

Connecting communities through innovative geotechnical services

The new Burnaby Lake Overpass will create a north-south pedestrian crossing of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), providing access to regional trails and destinations within the city of Burnaby.  Featuring a unique interlocking arch design, the bridge will serve as an iconic link for the region.

At 95 meters long and 5 meters wide, the bridge features double intersecting parabolic steel arches spanning 62 metres in length. Construction of the new bridge will improve the connectivity for the trail networks of Burnaby’s three major parks, Burnaby Lake Regional Park, Deer Lake Park and Robert Burnaby Park.

Strategic location selection

During the preliminary stage, EXP conducted a feasibility study on two of the four potential sites for the new overpass. After a geotechnical subsurface assessment to understand the subsurface conditions, a location was selected. The overpass’s north landing is situated near the trailhead at Glencairn Drive and the south landing is located near the intersection of Claude Avenue and McCarthy Court. This location carried a lower construction cost because of its existing high elevation at the locations of each embankment. The area also allowed for the overpass to be designed to accommodate future expansion of Highway 1.

For the detailed design stage, the team conducted a supplementary geotechnical assessment of the selected location. This assessment consisted of a field exploration comprising sonic test holes supplemented with standard penetration tests (SPTs) for assessing in situ soil density and standpipe piezometers to obtain additional information regarding groundwater.

Our team then presented recommendations for site preparation, temporary excavation, dewatering, interaction between proposed bridge and nearby infrastructures, as well as axial and lateral foundation design, and abutment slope stability assessment under both static and seismic conditions in accordance with Canadian bridge design regulations.

Finally, during the value engineering stage, our experts collaborated to design a customized single span, steel thrust arch pedestrian bridge design. The EXP team continues to contribute to this project during the current construction stage.

Building an active transportation network

The pedestrian bridge will create a safer and simpler way to travel between major trail networks. This project furthers Burnaby’s commitment to making the city more accessible for different forms of transportation. By creating a safer and easier path for pedestrians and cyclists, vehicle traffic and vehicle emissions will also be reduced. The overpass serves as an asset to the community, connecting people to nature and inviting people to explore the area in new ways.

Services

Geotechnical