It took more than a week to fix a large pothole in the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge last month. But in 1944, the Royal Canadian Engineers threw up a Bailey Bridge in just 10 hours.
The bridge was designed by Donald Coleman Bailey, a civil engineer from Southbourne, England. When the Germans blew up bridges in Europe, the good guys could quickly replace them with Bailey’s invention. Made of steel and wood sections, it fitted together like a giant Meccano set and was strong enough to carry tanks (note the car pictured above).
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November 2, 1944
Vancouverites got to see the Bailey Bridge on Army Day, November 2, 1944. It was part of an effort to raise money for the Victory Loan campaign. Sixty Royal Canadian Engineers kicked off construction at midnight, finishing just 10 hours later. In plenty of time for the 11:00 am opening by Gail Patrick, a 32-year-old American actress and law student. Patrick played opposite stars such as Cary Grant, Carole Lombard and Ginger Rogers, and by the late 1950s, she was president of Paisano Productions and executive producer of the Perry Mason television series – starring New Westminster’s Raymond Burr.
Over 75,000 crossed:
The Bailey Bridge had a clearance height of 10 feet 6 inches and crossed Georgia Street at Howe. More than 75,000 people crossed the 240-foot-long bridge on November 2 and it was so popular that it was saved for one more day. It was demolished on Friday evening, November 3.
Unfortunately, the Bailey Bridge over the Nicomekl River in South Surrey, is currently under demolition. But if you have a hankering to cross one near Vancouver, check out the Pilchuk Creek Bridge, on the Squamish Valley Road, south of Paradise valley. According to the Canadian Military Engineers website there are 15 functioning Bailey Bridge’s in British Columbia.
Related:
- More stories like this one in Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History