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BURNABY, B.C. — Construction crews for the City of Burnaby recently shut down a 10-kilometre stretch of Highway 1 in Burnaby.

Why you ask? To lift a fully built, 400-tonne overpass to its new location, linking two natural areas in Burnaby for pedestrians and cyclists.

Crews first removed the concrete median, then laid down protective sheets on the ground. They spread a thick layer of gravel over the road, explains a release.

Then two computer-controlled platforms swung the massive structure 90 degrees to its new home spanning the highway.

“Burnaby’s north-south connections have historically been challenging, especially for non-drivers. Cyclists and pedestrians need to navigate the Kensington crossing, a chaotic intersection with multiple lanes of merging traffic and ramps,” the release reads. “The new pedestrian-cyclist overpass, which opens early next year, offers a safe, picturesque alternative.”

Planning for the overpass began in 2019. Initially, four options were considered but after engineering and geotechnical studies, along with resident feedback, the city chose the final design for its geotechnical safety, low environmental impact and cost effectiveness.

The overpass measures 5.7 metres above the highway and is higher than the Kensington crossing. It uses Canadian weathered steel, a special type of steel popular for outdoor uses for its long life and durability, the release adds.

Jacob Brothers is delivering the project, which received funding from the provincial and federal governments and TransLink.