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It's an integral part of Vancouver's infrastructure and a symbol of the city's enduring growth and prosperity. Named after a pair of twin mountain peaks to the north, the Lions Gate Bridge is a National Historic Site, treasured local icon, and one of the longest bridges in Canada. With a total length of 1,823 metres and a main span of 473 metres guarded by two concrete Art Deco lion sculptures, the suspension bridge crosses the Burrard Inlet to provide an indispensable connection between Downtown Vancouver and the North Shore.
Although the landmark has become entrenched in the consciousness of the city, its erection had its fair share of detractors, who argued that it would negatively impact Stanley Park, stifle the seaport, and take toll revenue away from the Second Narrows Bridge. A link across the first narrows of the Burrard Inlet became a real possibility at the turn of the 20th century, with an idea that gained traction and was eventually pitched to the public of Vancouver in 1927. Though the plebiscite that could have launched construction was defeated, the proposal would face Vancouverites again six years later. This time, with the prospect of good jobs partially soothing the wounds of the Great Depression, it was passed.
Lacking the funds to buy the waterfront property himself, engineering contractor and industrialist Alfred James Towle Taylor convinced the wealthy Guinness family, noted for their Irish stout, to purchase the necessary lands. The acquisition of 4,700 acres of West Vancouver, a process accomplished through a syndicate called British Pacific Properties Ltd., marked a big step towards the bridge's construction.
The federal government granted approval to the project after the proponents agreed to utilize Vancouver materials and labour, but widespread xenophobia at the time underpinned a requirement that "no Asiatic person shall be employed in or upon any part of the undertaking or other works." With a design finalized by Montreal's Monsarrat and Pratley, who would go on to design the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge in Halifax, the Lions Gate began construction on March 31, 1937, and opened to traffic on November 14, 1938. In May of the following year, the bridge was inaugurated by royalty when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presided over the official opening ceremony. Pomp and circumstance surrounded the longest suspension bridge in the British Empire.
As predicted, it quickly became clear that the consequential population growth in West Vancouver meant that the two-lane road configuration would need to be amended. To ease traffic and accommodate more vehicles, the roadway was divided into three lanes. Later, overhead control signals were implemented which would enable the centre lane to become bidirectional. A toll of 25 cents that was once charged to the public was eliminated in 1963, eight years after the province bought the bridge from the Guinness family for $5,873,837.17, the same amount it cost to build.
More recent changes include the replacement of the north viaduct with a stronger and wider steel deck in 1975 and the installation of lights on the bridge, a gift from the Guinness family for Expo '86. These bulb lights were replaced by a modern LED lighting system in 2009. A number of proposals in the 1990s surfaced as it became clear the aging bridge would need a major update or wholesale replacement. Building a second bridge, double-decking the existing bridge or constructing a tunnel were all dismissed by the City, who wanted to prevent more vehicles from being added to downtown streets. Like the north viaduct before it, the main bridge deck was replaced in 2001, with wider right-of-ways for vehicles and pedestrians. The remarkable project was also a record-breaking one: it was the first time a deck, hangers, and stiffening trusses of a suspension bridge were replaced simultaneously without closing the bridge to traffic.
Among the most significant technical and engineering achievements in Canada, the Lions Gate Bridge is etched into the urban fabric of Vancouver. Some of the best views of the skyline can be admired here and plans to let tourists climb to the pinnacle of the bridge promise even better perspectives.
Awash with green like its natural surroundings, the open steelwork of the twin towers lends a sense of lightness to the structure. And although Vancouver congestion has prompted politicians to make more severe changes to the bridge, City officials, noting its historical and sacrosanct value, have wisely resisted those urges.
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