| As a city known for its breath-taking mixture of pristine | | | | accommodate other forms of transportation such as |
| peaks, lush foliage and flowing rivers and creeks; | | | | bikers and pedestrians. |
| Vancouver requires a number of bridges to connect | | | | Second Narrows Bridge/Iron Workers Memorial |
| everything together. There are eight significant bridges | | | | The Second Narrows Bridge is a vertical lift railway |
| in Vancouver, not including the Capilano suspension | | | | bridge that crosses what is known as the second |
| bridge. Three of the bridges cross over the Fraser | | | | narrowing of the Burrard Inlet. It was the first bridge to |
| River that borders Vancouver on the south-side, | | | | connect communities of Vancouver with those of the |
| another three cross False Creek connecting | | | | North Shore. Talks surrounding the construction of the |
| downtown Vancouver to the rest of the city, and two | | | | Second Narrows dates back to the days of the |
| extend over the Burrard Inlet to link downtown | | | | Klondike Gold Rush where a number of railway |
| Vancouver to the North Shore. This article reveals the | | | | companies were interested in building a railway from |
| history behind the prominent Lions Gate and Second | | | | Vancouver to the Dawson gold fields. Although many |
| Narrows bridges and introduces the Golden Ears | | | | attempts were made to initiate construction, many |
| Bridge, the newest addition to Greater Vancouver's | | | | problems arose: the North Shore needed to be more |
| bridges. | | | | developed, companies became bankrupt and could not |
| Lions Gate Bridge | | | | fund the project and the onset of World War I had the |
| The Lions Gate Bridge, also known as the First | | | | government's focus on construction diverted. |
| Narrows Bridge, is a suspension bridge that crosses | | | | The bridge was eventually built in 1925 by John |
| the Burrard Inlet and connects downtown Vancouver | | | | Stewart and Northern Construction, it started with just |
| (City of Vancouver) with the municipalities of the North | | | | a car deck but was able to also accommodate trains |
| Shore - the Cities of North Vancouver and West | | | | in 1926. After being out of service for 4 years and hit |
| Vancouver. The bridge was entitled "Lions Gate" after | | | | by ships on numerous occasions, the provincial |
| the Lions, a pair of mountain peaks in North | | | | government purchased the bridge in 1933 and installed |
| Vancouver. The bridge includes three reversible lanes, | | | | a lift section of the deck. In the 1960s, a brand new |
| each containing overhead lane signals to indicate the | | | | much bigger and higher six lane Second Narrows |
| direction of traffic. | | | | Bridge was built alongside the original structure, the |
| Discussion regarding construction of the Lions Gate | | | | original bridge was thus transformed entirely for rail |
| began in 1890, when many bridge builders saw the | | | | use. In 1994, the new bridge was renamed to the Iron |
| inevitability of a bridge that would extend across the | | | | Workers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing to pay |
| first narrows. There was much debate on whether the | | | | respect to those who died in accidents during its |
| bridge should be built; many argued that it would spoil | | | | construction. |
| Stanley Park, interfere with the busy seaport or take | | | | Golden Ears Bridge |
| toll revenue away from the Second Narrows Bridge. | | | | Although the Golden Ears Bridge is not connected |
| However, others thought it was essential to expanding | | | | directly to the city of Vancouver, it is the newest |
| development on the North Shore and that many of the | | | | bridge to be built in the Lower Mainland of B.C. and is |
| arguments against it could be overcome. It was not | | | | the longest extradosed bridge in North America. As a |
| until 1933 that a majority vote for the bridge | | | | project of Translink, the South Coast British Columbia |
| construction was obtained. Alfred James Towle | | | | Transportation Authority, the six-lane bridge spans |
| Taylor, a member of the proposal team owned the | | | | over the Fraser River and connects the municipalities |
| provincial franchise to construct the viaduct; however, | | | | on the south side of Langley and Surrey with the north |
| he did not have the funds to purchase the large | | | | side of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. It was officially |
| sections of land in North and West Vancouver that | | | | open for traffic on June 16, 2009. |
| were needed. Fortunately he was able to convince the | | | | Named after the "Golden Ears" twin mountain peaks |
| Guinness family (of the well-known Irish beer) to invest | | | | that overlook the bridge site from north of the Fraser |
| in the project and fund the land that was needed. | | | | River, the bridge is also considered the most significant |
| The bridge was designed by the Montreal company | | | | improvement to the Greater Vancouver road system |
| Monsarrat and Pratley and although it was first built | | | | since the construction of the Alex Fraser Bridge in |
| with just two-lanes, it was later repainted into three | | | | 1986. Studies have indicated that the Golden Ears |
| lanes to accommodate increased traffic flow. Since its | | | | bridge will have immense long-term effects in the area, |
| manufacture, the Lions Gate has been upgraded by | | | | improving travel times and stimulating economic activity. |
| the City of Vancouver to increase its longevity and to | | | | |