{"id":81,"date":"2018-03-31T21:03:05","date_gmt":"2018-04-01T01:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/engineeringinsociety\/?post_type=chapter&p=81"},"modified":"2022-04-09T21:27:19","modified_gmt":"2022-04-10T01:27:19","slug":"infrastructure-disaster-ironworkers-memorial-bridge-vancouver-1958","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/engineeringinsociety\/chapter\/infrastructure-disaster-ironworkers-memorial-bridge-vancouver-1958\/","title":{"raw":"1958 - BC Infrastructure Disaster - Ironworkers Memorial Bridge - Vancouver 1958","rendered":"1958 – BC Infrastructure Disaster – Ironworkers Memorial Bridge – Vancouver 1958"},"content":{"raw":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ironworkers_Memorial_Second_Narrows_Crossing<\/a>\r\n\r\nThe\u00a0Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing<\/b>, also called the\u00a0Ironworkers Memorial Bridge<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Second Narrows Bridge<\/b>, is the second bridge constructed at the Second (east) Narrows of\u00a0Burrard Inlet<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Vancouver, British Columbia<\/a>, Canada. Originally named the Second Narrows Bridge, it connects Vancouver to the north shore of Burrard Inlet, which includes the\u00a0District of North Vancouver<\/a>, the\u00a0City of North Vancouver<\/a>, and\u00a0West Vancouver<\/a>. It was constructed adjacent to the older\u00a0Second Narrows Bridge<\/a>, which is now exclusively a rail bridge. The First Narrows Bridge, better known as\u00a0Lions Gate Bridge<\/a>, crosses Burrard Inlet about 8 kilometres west of the Second Narrows.\r\n\r\nThe bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge designed by Swan Wooster Engineering Co. Ltd. Construction began in November 1957, and the bridge was officially opened on August 25, 1960. It cost approximately $15 million to build.\r\n\r\nThe bridge is 1,292 metres (4,239 ft) long with a centre span of 335 metres (1,099 ft). It is part of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway No. 1)\r\n

Collapse on June 17, 1958<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_517\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"648\"]\"Photo View (looking east) of new Second Narrows Bridge, 2 months after the collapse of 2 spans, Image credit: Ron Thomson, Personal Collection CC BY-SA 3.0 File:Second Narrows Bridge (Vancouver).jpg Created: 17 August 1958[\/caption]\r\n\r\nOn June 17, 1958, as a crane stretched from the north side of the new bridge to join the two chords of the unfinished arch, several spans collapsed. Seventy-nine workers plunged 30 metres (100\u00a0ft) into the water. Eighteen were killed either instantly or shortly thereafter, possibly drowned by their heavy tool belts. A diver searching for bodies drowned later, bringing the total fatalities for the collapse to 19. In a subsequent Royal Commission inquiry, the bridge collapse was attributed to miscalculation by bridge engineers. A temporary arm, holding the fifth anchor span, was deemed too light to bear the weight.[2]<\/a><\/sup>\r\n

Renaming<\/span><\/h2>\r\nThe bridge was renamed the\u00a0Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing<\/b>\u00a0in 1994 to honour the 19 workers who died in the collapse, along with four others who also died during the construction process.[3]<\/a><\/sup>\r\n\r\nJennifer Kirkey attended the official opening of the artwork along the new Convention Centre in Vancouver that honoured people injured or killed in the line of duty.\u00a0 This is a picture of me with one of the survivors of the Bridge Collapse.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_222\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"3504\"]\"Two One of the survivors of the Ironworker's Bridge Collapse and Jennifer Kirkey. Picture taken in 2009 at the opening of the art work to commemorate injured workers. Image credit: Jennifer Kirkey CCO[\/caption]\r\n

In popular culture<\/span><\/h2>\r\nStompin' Tom Connors<\/a>\u00a0paid a musical tribute to the fallen ironworkers with the song \"The Bridge Came Tumbling Down\" on his 1972 album\u00a0My Stompin' Grounds<\/i>. (This tune also appears on several later compilations one of which was performed by\u00a0Les Claypool's Duo de Twang<\/a>).\u00a0Jimmy Dean<\/a>'s 1962 song \"Steel Men\" is a ballad about the Second Narrows bridge disaster.\u00a0Gary Geddes<\/a>' 2007 book of poetry, entitled\u00a0Falsework,<\/i>\u00a0is based on the collapse of the bridge.\r\n\r\nEngineering students might find it interesting that on <\/span>February 2, 2009 several\u00a0University of British Columbia<\/a>\u00a0engineering students were arrested while attempting to suspend the shell of a\u00a0Volkswagen Beetle<\/a>\u00a0under the bridge as part of an\u00a0\"Engineering Week\" tradition<\/a>.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThere were many inquiries held after the collapse.\u00a0 The official commission can be accessed at\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca\/commission-on-second-narrows-bridge<\/a>\r\n\r\nThere is a complete lesson from the BC Labour History Project.\u00a0 It can be accessed\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/teachbcdb.bctf.ca\/permalink\/resource695<\/a>\r\n\r\nWorkSafe BC made a tribute video on the 50th Anniversary in 2009.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/F73ahPK5qpQ","rendered":"

https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ironworkers_Memorial_Second_Narrows_Crossing<\/a><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing<\/b>, also called the\u00a0Ironworkers Memorial Bridge<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Second Narrows Bridge<\/b>, is the second bridge constructed at the Second (east) Narrows of\u00a0Burrard Inlet<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Vancouver, British Columbia<\/a>, Canada. Originally named the Second Narrows Bridge, it connects Vancouver to the north shore of Burrard Inlet, which includes the\u00a0District of North Vancouver<\/a>, the\u00a0City of North Vancouver<\/a>, and\u00a0West Vancouver<\/a>. It was constructed adjacent to the older\u00a0Second Narrows Bridge<\/a>, which is now exclusively a rail bridge. The First Narrows Bridge, better known as\u00a0Lions Gate Bridge<\/a>, crosses Burrard Inlet about 8 kilometres west of the Second Narrows.<\/p>\n

The bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge designed by Swan Wooster Engineering Co. Ltd. Construction began in November 1957, and the bridge was officially opened on August 25, 1960. It cost approximately $15 million to build.<\/p>\n

The bridge is 1,292 metres (4,239 ft) long with a centre span of 335 metres (1,099 ft). It is part of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway No. 1)<\/p>\n

Collapse on June 17, 1958<\/h2>\n
\"Photo
View (looking east) of new Second Narrows Bridge, 2 months after the collapse of 2 spans, Image credit: Ron Thomson, Personal Collection CC BY-SA 3.0 File:Second Narrows Bridge (Vancouver).jpg Created: 17 August 1958<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On June 17, 1958, as a crane stretched from the north side of the new bridge to join the two chords of the unfinished arch, several spans collapsed. Seventy-nine workers plunged 30 metres (100\u00a0ft) into the water. Eighteen were killed either instantly or shortly thereafter, possibly drowned by their heavy tool belts. A diver searching for bodies drowned later, bringing the total fatalities for the collapse to 19. In a subsequent Royal Commission inquiry, the bridge collapse was attributed to miscalculation by bridge engineers. A temporary arm, holding the fifth anchor span, was deemed too light to bear the weight.[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Renaming<\/span><\/h2>\n

The bridge was renamed the\u00a0Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing<\/b>\u00a0in 1994 to honour the 19 workers who died in the collapse, along with four others who also died during the construction process.[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Jennifer Kirkey attended the official opening of the artwork along the new Convention Centre in Vancouver that honoured people injured or killed in the line of duty.\u00a0 This is a picture of me with one of the survivors of the Bridge Collapse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Two
One of the survivors of the Ironworker’s Bridge Collapse and Jennifer Kirkey. Picture taken in 2009 at the opening of the art work to commemorate injured workers. Image credit: Jennifer Kirkey CCO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In popular culture<\/span><\/h2>\n

Stompin’ Tom Connors<\/a>\u00a0paid a musical tribute to the fallen ironworkers with the song “The Bridge Came Tumbling Down” on his 1972 album\u00a0My Stompin’ Grounds<\/i>. (This tune also appears on several later compilations one of which was performed by\u00a0Les Claypool’s Duo de Twang<\/a>).\u00a0Jimmy Dean<\/a>‘s 1962 song “Steel Men” is a ballad about the Second Narrows bridge disaster.\u00a0Gary Geddes<\/a>‘ 2007 book of poetry, entitled\u00a0Falsework,<\/i>\u00a0is based on the collapse of the bridge.<\/p>\n

Engineering students might find it interesting that on <\/span>February 2, 2009 several\u00a0University of British Columbia<\/a>\u00a0engineering students were arrested while attempting to suspend the shell of a\u00a0Volkswagen Beetle<\/a>\u00a0under the bridge as part of an\u00a0“Engineering Week” tradition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were many inquiries held after the collapse.\u00a0 The official commission can be accessed at<\/p>\n

https:\/\/search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca\/commission-on-second-narrows-bridge<\/a><\/p>\n

There is a complete lesson from the BC Labour History Project.\u00a0 It can be accessed<\/p>\n

https:\/\/teachbcdb.bctf.ca\/permalink\/resource695<\/a><\/p>\n

WorkSafe BC made a tribute video on the 50th Anniversary in 2009.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n