Bridge needs WHILE MAINTENANCE work .on. the Ironworkers Memorial” Second Narrows Crossing goes ahead, plans are- ‘being made by the Ministry of Transportation and Highways to begin the construction phase _Of a seismic upgrading of the bridge. By lan Nable News Reporter Gate Bridge may go ahead as well, depending on government funding. _.The ministry recently awarded a - $600,000 contract to Hitec Steel Construction of Burnaby to replace the maintenance : travetlers under- -neath the Second Narrows bridge to help keep the bridge in good condi- tion, said highways media relations officer Jim Davidson.7--- - , Davidson also said that the min-” istry would like to issue a tender call “+ forthe first of three: contracts to - *. begin’ aseismic upgrade of. the * - Second Narrows. in the’ next fiscal nos Year, . ” SA: seismic. as bridge and “design work for the : upgrade have been completed, said Davidson. ©, : , However, /whethel : upg ; begins in fiscal 1995-96, which ” begins in April,’ is dependent upon . the NDP government’s next budget, - “éxpected/to.come down in the third week of March, he’ said. -. Two weeks (after that, the min- istry ‘number-crunchers will decide , Which projects will go forward with- “in.the budget liikits, Davidson said. money’ we get’ for the seismic pro- “gram for 1995-96," he said, ane ‘All [ean say is I'm hopeful. ” The, Sec ond : ‘Narrows: and oa “THE SECOND Narrows bridge, is due for a selsmic upgrade. The: And an upgrading of the Lions ; more earthquake resistance Mann bridges are at the top of the retrofit list, Davidson said. Further down is the Lions Gate Bridge. A seismic upgrade to make that crossing more earthquake resis- tant could happen next fiscal year. The timing of the upgrade depends on budget funding, he said. Second Narrows, completed in 1960, is structurally sound except in .the case of a severe earthquake, Davidson said. Many factors such as a quake’s duration, the direction of the tremors and the tine between .the tremors will affect how the bridge will survive a future earthquake. “It’s an almost impossible ques- tion to answer,” he said. The Second Narrows has been chosen for the next retrofit because the highways ministry wants to keep certain major routes open and have a route to bring in supplies in case of earthquake, he said. . Utility lines. also cross Second Narrows. - : A 1993 report by the ministry said minor retrofitting calls for tying the superstructure together so noth- ing collapses, although the bridge may be severely damaged and not useable after a quake. The bridge may also require a lot of repair after- wards. The two-year-old — seismic upgrade program will eventually affect all the major highway struc- tures in the Lower Mainland, and is ‘an important part of the on-going road .and rehabilitation program, Davidson said. New bridges have been ‘built to standards set since the 1989 San - Francisco earthquake, while older - bridges such as the Second Narrows will be retrofitted to improve their resistance to earthquakes, he said. Retrofit work-has been complet- ° ed. on.. New - Westminster's’ Queensborough Bridge and is in progress.on the Oak Street Bridge, ’ Davidson said. “Davidson would not ‘speculate on “the costs of the’ first phase of the - decision as to: hen now Fests. with the Provinelal government. Second Narrows retrofit, saying that would provide information which could affect contractors’ bids. . For the 1994-95 fiscal year, $9.2 million was earmarked for the seis- mic programs. in the south coast region. A major upgrading te the Lions Gate Bridge will not occur until a decision is make to improve the cur- rent bridge or build a new one. What's happening in our District » 1994 Design Awards The Advisory Design Panel presents annual awards to recognize projects which contribute to the quality of the built environment in the District. The 1994 Award recipients are: AWARD OF EXCELLENCE BURRARDVIEW HOUSING CO-OP Architect - Gomberoff Policzer Architects Landscape Architect - Progressive Homes: Contractor - Progressive Homes Resource Group - Innovative Housing Society Client - Canadian Mortgage and Housing _ Corporation CAPILANO COLLEGE LIBRARY Owner - Capilano College. Architect - Henriques and Partners Landscape Architect - Guzzi Perry and Associates Ltd. Loy Contractor - Smith Bros. and Wilson Ltd. CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE . ENTRANCEGATE || _ Owner - Capilano Suspension Bridge Ltd. oe _ Architect - Don Stuart Architect Inc. mo Landscape Architect - Eckford & Associates ee Strictural: ‘Engineer - - Rockingham Engineering Lid Contractor « Shig Nikaido DEEP CO VERN . SEYMOUR FIREHALL " Architect - Ib G. Hansen Architect Ltd. Landscape Architect - Pavelik and Associates Lid. ' Contractor - Boyd Construction Client - District of Nortli. Vancouver Fire Deparbnent _ HARBOURVIEW PARK VIEWING ” PLATFORM” “Owner - Vancouver Port Corporation Architect - Frits de Vries Architect Lid: ‘Landscape Architect -Philips Whori Long Inc. Engineers ~ Reid Crowther and Partners Ltd. Contractor - 5:C.1. Enginzers and ~. Consultants Inc. - -NAHANEE WOODS - TOWNHOUSE PROJECT _ Architect - “Rostich Hemphitl and Asséciates re ' Architects a Landscape. Architect - Wendy Grandin Laviseape " Architects | ° Developer and Contractor « Cressey Development : _ Corporation 3051 - 3055 ‘HIGHLAND BOULEVARD ‘INFILL COMMERCIAL © - Ouner- Sobeit Holdings Ltd, Architect 2 SES Contractor - Lather Construction In: _ Vancouver Parks Department ‘Sing Environmental : ‘Volunteers » Interested i in ‘becoming involved it in 2 environmental programs and: : initiatives i in your community? _ Find out about programs such: as. Adopt-A-Stream, Adupi-aShoreline or. Adopt-a-Trail; Lynn Valley Ecology * Centre programs and more, at the — District's Environmental Forum: { Tuesday, Januacy 24,1995, beef at 7:30 p.m., _ Municipal Hall.