Ironworkers Memorial Bridge
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Ironworkers_Memoria_Bridge_Vancouver_BC.jpg
The Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing, originally called the Second Narrows Bridge, is the second bridge constructed at the Second Narrows of Burrard Inlet. It connects Vancouver to the North Shore of the Burrard Inlet, which includes North Vancouver and West Vancouver. It was constructed along side the original Second Narrows Bridge, which is now exclusively a rail bridge.
The bridge is a steel cantelever truss bridge. The design was by Swan Wooster Engineering Co. Ltd. Construction began in November of 1957. The bridge was officially opened on August 25, 1960. It cost approximately $15 million to build.
The bridge is 1292m long with the centre span being 335m.
In Memoriam
The bridge was renamed the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing in 1994 to honour the 27 workers that lost their lives during its construction. On June 17, 1958, several spans of the new bridge collapsed after an overloaded support beam broke. 50 workers plunged 30 metres into the water; 18 of them were drowned by their heavy tool belts.
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External link
A Survivor's Account: Bridge Disaster Recalled (http://www.nsnews.com/issues00/w062600/06210001.html)