LNG Canada is installing a bridge that will transfer liquefied natural gas (LNG) from storage tanks onto tankers. The bridge will support the cryogenic pipes that will take the LNG from the storage tank down to the berth.
The trestle bridge’s design boasts some benefits for the nearby estuary.
“For the most part, all of it is done off the ground to keep the migration corridors open for the different animals,” said Alex Benko, marine construction engineer.
The cantilever bridge that constructs the trestle bridge never touches the ground. It drives piles along its path and uses them as an anchor to advance. Using this particular method reduces the footprint on the nearby estuary as the only thing that touches it is the piles.
A pile is a post-like foundation, typically a cylinder, that is pushed into the ground to act as a support for structures being built on it.
The bridge is being built near the tidal mouth of the Kitimat River. The estuary is located at the southeast corner of the site. The bridge will also support a roadway for maintenance workers to access the pipes without disturbing the estuary.
Piling is currently taking place and roadway is being added to the bridge. Foundation is also being added for where the preassembled pipe racks will be placed.
The bridge is planned to be completed in December 2022.