ABANDONED ALEXANDRA BRIDGE | Gateway to the Cariboo Wagon Road

Located along the mighty Fraser River, Alexandra Bridge served as an important link connecting the Cariboo region to Fort Langley. After World War I, the dawn of the automotive era saw a reinvestment in roads in the province including the re-opening of the Fraser Canyon to road traffic in the form of the new Cariboo Highway . This second Alexandra Suspension Bridge still exists today, though it ceased to be used for automobile traffic in 1964. Today, the old Alexandra Bridge Provincial Park provides a place for visitors to the area to stop and see an important piece of history in the area while also enjoying the incredible views of the Fraser Canyon.

#britishcolumbia #bridges #abandoned #abandonedplaces #thruthegiftshop

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⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰
0:00 ALEXANDRA BRIDGE
0:15 CARIBOO WAGON ROAD
0:50 ALEXANDRA BRIDGE HISTORY
1:35 FRASER CANYON HIGHWAY
3:25 ALEXANDRA BRIDGE PROVINCIAL PARK

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ABOUT EXIT THRU THE GIFT SHOP
Join me in exploring roadside attractions, museums, oddities, points of interest and other diversions before finally...exiting thru the gift shop.

SOURCES

[UnkleHeavy]

So cool how it's kind of just in the middle of the woods like that now! The views looking down through that steel grate must have been amazing!!!

[fedup]

Im fortunate enough to live in British Columbia. I've walked across that bridge many times and always enjoyed it's uniqueness.

[ExitThrutheGiftShop]

First stop on my Southern BC Road Trip, took as quick detour to visit the abandoned Alexandra Bridge. Day Two of my road trip series will be posted Sunday!

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⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰
0:00 ALEXANDRA BRIDGE
0:15 CARIBOO WAGON ROAD
0:50 ALEXANDRA BRIDGE HISTORY
1:35 FRASER CANYON HIGHWAY
3:25 ALEXANDRA BRIDGE PROVINCIAL PARK

🌐 FOLLOW 🌐
ABOUT EXIT THRU THE GIFT SHOP
Join me in exploring roadside attractions, museums, oddities, points of interest and other diversions before finally...exiting thru the gift shop.

[Sibes]

Great video. I love this old girl. Pity it is now closed off. Our late neighbour used to spend his summers in the early '50's in and around Yale visiting with his Aunt & Uncle. He once told us that the cables used on the bridge were from the street cars of San Francisco.

[OffRampAdventures]

Great video and info! Love this kind of work!

[disinfinity]

So interesting to see. Bridges are fascinating with their different details.

[seadub]

Thank you for the video. Didn't know there was a bridge built before the one you see now. Time for a road trip methinks. Only two hours from where I live.

[lmiddleman]

Generally a great video, but a few corrections... The original was not 1865. Original construction began spring 1863, officially opened to traffic in September. There was no previous bridge, Frank Way ran a ferry near the location and lost that business when the Alexandra of 1863 opened. You mention the CPR led to the decline in traffic over the bridge, which is true, but the primary reason was the CPR itself took over large portions of the Cariboo road bed... there was no more Cariboo thru road south of Spence's Bridge by 1885. When the 1926 bridge and 1927 highway opened, large new road sections had been constructed. You mention the modern bridge was built in 1964, which is also true, but the BC highway construction at the time was heavily engaged in a much bigger project... the 1962 Trans-Canada Highway, of which the current bridge is part. Finally, the description states the Cariboo Road was an important link to Fort Langley, but realistically Fort Langley was but a stopover for the steamboats that transported most of the goods and people of the gold rush between New Westminster and Yale.

[danielmaunton]

I've tried to cross that bridge twice. Too sketchy for me!!😂

[canyonoverland]

2:42 Still the best way to keep the bridge deck clear of snow in the winter

[BADBIKERBENNY]

That is the Canadian National Railway you cross. Yes you do cross the Canadian Pacific, but that is 1.666 miles past yale at the Saddle Rock section of the old highway.

[danielmaunton]

They need to have someone to hold your hand to cross!! 😂

[Beparepa]

I had to carry my dog the whole way across the bridge because of the metal open grating .