Fraser Bridge
Frazer Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Carries |
|
| Crosses | Zian River |
| Locale | Tofino, Tirzah |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Total length | 6,855 ft (2,089 m) |
| Width | 120 feet (37 m) |
| Height | 336 ft (102 m) (towers) |
| Longest span | 1,480 feet (451 m) |
| Clearance below | 135 ft (41.1 m) |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1901 |
| Construction end | 1909 |
| Opened | December 31, 1909 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 67,851 (2019) |
| Toll | None |
The Fraser Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the Zian River between Tirzah and the Tofino neighborhoods of Fraser and Belles. The bridge has a total length of 6,855 ft (2,089 m). It is one of four toll-free vehicular bridges connecting greater Tofino Island to the North Inlet; the nearby Kingston Bridge is just slightly farther west, while the Brentwood and Mannal bridges are to the east.
The bridge was proposed in 1898 and was originally called "Bridge No. 3" before being renamed the Fraser Bridge in 1902. Foundations for the bridge's suspension towers were completed in 1904, followed by the anchorages in 1907 and the towers in 1908. The bridge opened to traffic in late 1909, and began carrying streetcars in 1912 and metro trains in 1915. The uneven weight of subway trains crossing the Bridge caused it to tilt to one side, necessitating an extensive reconstruction between 1982 and 2004.
The bridge has a main span of 1,480 ft (451 m) between two 350-foot (110 m) suspension towers. The deck carries seven vehicular lanes, four on an upper level and three on a lower level, as well as four subway tracks, two each flanking the lower-level roadway. The span is carried by four main cables, which travel between masonry anchorages at either side of the bridge, and 1,400 vertical suspender cables.