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The Mission Bridge is a steel girder bridge linking the City Of Mission to the City of Abbotsford, British Columbia. The bridge is measured at 3,695 feet long and is the only direct link between the two cities when it comes to automobile use.
[edit] History
Before the Mission Bridge was completed, the only link between the City of Abbotsford and the City of Mission was the Canadian Pacific Railway Mission Railway Bridge which could have wooden planks laid on the tracks to allow automobile traffic. Due to floods in the 1940s and 1950s, the bridge and surrounding area were becoming inaccessible. This was causing damage to Mission's business centre because a large percentage of the revenue in Mission was from Abbotsford. In order to revitalize business, a more permanent, consistent solution was needed. The Mission Bridge project was put into action in the month of May, 1969, with the dredging of the Fraser River's banks.
[edit] Construction
The construction of the bridge was a large undertaking. The main construction occurred between May 1969 and 1972. It included 19 piers, A four lane highway and pedestrian/bicycle routes adjacent to the main roadway. The total cost of the project was approximately 13,000,000 CAD.
The Bridge was officially opened on July 11, 1973 by the Premier of British Columbia of the time, Dave Barrett.
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