The Lions Gate Bridge, opened in 1938 and officially known as the First Narrows Bridge, is a
suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck (bridge), deck is hung below suspension wire rope, cables on vertical suspenders. The first modern examples of this type of bridge were built in the early 1800s. Simple suspension bridg ...
that crosses the
first narrows of
Burrard Inlet
Burrard Inlet () is a shallow-sided fjord in the northwestern Lower Mainland, British Columbia, Canada. Formed during the last Ice Age, it separates the City of Vancouver and the rest of the lowland Burrard Peninsula to the south from the coa ...
and connects the City of
Vancouver
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
, British Columbia, to the
North Shore municipalities of the
District of North Vancouver, the
City of North Vancouver, and
West Vancouver
West Vancouver is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, West Vancouver is situated on the north shore of Burrard Inlet to the northwest of the city ...
. The term "Lions Gate" refers to
the Lions, a pair of mountain peaks north of Vancouver. Northbound traffic on the bridge heads in their general direction. A pair of cast concrete lions, designed by sculptor
Charles Marega, were placed on either side of the south approach to the bridge in January 1939.
The total length of the bridge including the north viaduct is . The length including approach spans is , the main span alone is , the tower height is , and it has a ship's clearance of . Prospect Point in
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a public park in British Columbia, Canada, that makes up the northwestern half of Vancouver's Downtown Vancouver, Downtown peninsula, surrounded by waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay, Vancouver, English Bay. The park bor ...
offered a good high south end to the bridge, but the low flat delta land to the north required construction of the extensive North Viaduct.
The bridge has three lanes, with the middle being a
reversible lane
A reversible lane, also known as variable lane, dynamic lane, and tidal flow, is a managed lane in which traffic may travel in either direction, depending on certain conditions. Typically, it is meant to improve traffic flow during rush hours, b ...
indicated by
signals
A signal is both the process and the result of Signal transmission, transmission of data over some transmission media, media accomplished by embedding some variation. Signals are important in multiple subject fields including signal processin ...
. The centre lane changes direction to accommodate for traffic patterns. The traffic volume on the bridge is 60,000–70,000 vehicles per day. Trucks exceeding are prohibited, as are vehicles using
studded tires
Snow tires, also known as winter tires, are tires designed for use on snow and ice. Snow tires have a tread design with larger gaps than those on conventional tires, increasing traction on snow and ice. Such tires that have passed specific wint ...
. The bridge forms part of Highways
99 and
1A.
On March 24, 2005, the Lions Gate Bridge was designated a
National Historic Site of Canada
National Historic Sites of Canada () are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as being of national historic significance. Parks C ...
.
History
In 1890, land speculator George Grant Mackay wrote in the local paper that he foresaw a bridge over the
first narrows.
The First Narrows ferry operated between
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in the civil parish of Lakes and the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Westmorland and located in the Lake District National Park, the town sits at the ...
and
Gastown
Gastown is the original settlement that became the core of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and a national historic site and a neighbourhood in the northwest section of the Downtown Eastside, adjacent to Downtown Vancouver.
Its ...
from 1909 to 1947. The decision on whether to build the bridge was put to the electorate of Vancouver in 1927, but the first plebiscite was defeated and the idea was put to rest for the time being.
Alfred James Towle Taylor, an engineer with a land interest in the construction of the bridge, worked to overcome local opposition to its construction. Taylor was able to convince
Walter Guinness of the
Guinness family
The Guinness family is an extensive Irish family known for its achievements in brewing, banking, politics, and religious ministry. The brewing branch is particularly well known among the general public for producing the dry stout beer Guinnes ...
(of the Irish
stout
Stout is a type of dark beer that is generally warm fermented, such as dry stout, oatmeal stout, milk stout and imperial stout. Stout is a type of ale.
The first known use of the word "stout" for beer is in a document dated 1677 in the E ...
fame) to invest in the land on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. They purchased of West Vancouver mountainside through a syndicate called
British Pacific Properties Ltd.
On December 13, 1933, a second plebiscite was held, passing with 70 percent in favour.
After considerable further negotiations with the federal government, approval was finally granted, with the requirement that Vancouver materials and workmen be used as much as possible to provide employment during the
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
. The 1933 bylaw authorizing construction included a provision mandating that "no
Asiatic person shall be employed in or upon any part of the undertaking or other works".
The bridge was designed by the
Montreal
Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
firm Monsarrat and Pratley, which was later responsible for the
Angus L. Macdonald Bridge in
Halifax,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...
, using a similar design. Other companies involved in the construction of the bridge included Swan Wooster Engineering,
Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc., Canron Western Constructors,
Dominion Bridge Company
The Dominion Bridge Company, Limited was a Canadian steel bridge constructor originally based in Lachine, Quebec. From the core business of steel bridge component fabrication, the company diversified into related areas such as the fabrication of ...
,
American Bridge Company
The American Bridge Company is a heavy/civil construction firm that specializes in building and renovating bridges and other large, complex structures. Founded in 1900, the company is headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsb ...
.
Construction began on March 31, 1937. After one and a half years and a cost of , the bridge opened to traffic on November 14, 1938.
On May 29, 1939,
King George VI
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of In ...
and
Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elisabeth or Elizabeth the Queen may refer to:
Queens regnant
* Elizabeth I (1533–1603; ), Queen of England and Ireland
* Elizabeth II (1926–2022; ), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms
* Queen B ...
presided over the official opening during a royal visit to Canada.
A toll of 25 cents was charged for each car or horse and carriage; five cents was charged for pedestrians or bicycles.
The bridge was built with two lanes, but a third
reversible lane
A reversible lane, also known as variable lane, dynamic lane, and tidal flow, is a managed lane in which traffic may travel in either direction, depending on certain conditions. Typically, it is meant to improve traffic flow during rush hours, b ...
was added on May 19, 1952, to add capacity during peak periods in the peak direction. The system cost $18,000 and was controlled with signs to indicate when the reversible centre lane was opened to traffic.
On January 20, 1955, the Guinness family sold the bridge to the
province of British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
for $5,873,837the cost of the original construction.
The government also considered plans to build a parallel span, which was estimated to cost $17 million in 1954, but these were shelved in favour of moving forward with the construction of the
Second Narrows Bridge
The Second Narrows Rail Bridge is a Vertical-lift bridge, vertical-lift railway bridge that crosses the Burrard Inlet and connects Vancouver with the North Shore (Greater Vancouver), North Shore. The bridge's south end connects directly to the ...
farther east up the Burrard Inlet and improving the existing Lions Gate Bridge.
A
partial cloverleaf interchange
A partial cloverleaf interchange or parclo is a modification of a cloverleaf interchange.
The design has been well received, and has since become one of the most popular freeway-to-arterial interchange designs in North America. It has also bee ...
was built in 1956 at Marine Way, located at the end of the bridge's north approach, and was followed by a new bridge over the
Capilano River to address congestion issues.
The toll instituted by the Guinness family remained on the Lions Gate Bridge until April 1, 1963, as part of the provincial government's toll removal scheme for several bridges. The
toll plaza
A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private road for which a fee (or '' toll'') is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically implemented to help recoup the costs of road construction and maintenan ...
at the north end of the bridge was later demolished.
In 1965, the centre lane controls were replaced with traffic signals.
In 1975, the deteriorating original concrete deck of the North Viaduct was replaced with a lighter, wider, and stronger steel
orthotropic deck
An orthotropic bridge or orthotropic deck is typically one whose fabricated deck consists of a structural steel deck plate stiffened either longitudinally with ribs or transversely, or in both directions. This allows the fabricated deck both t ...
with wider lanes. This was carried out in sections using a series of short closures of the bridge; each time, one old section was lowered from the bridge and its replacement was put into place.
In 1986, the Guinness family, as a gift to Vancouver, purchased decorative lights that make it a distinctive nighttime landmark.
The 170 lights were designed and installed by British engineer Ian Hayward and first lit up on February 19 of that year.
In 1994, a new counterflow system was introduced to the bridge to reduce congestion.

From September 2000 to September 2001, the replacement of the entire suspended structure of the original suspension bridge was undertaken without interruption of peak-hour trafficthe first time an entire suspended structure of a major suspension bridge was replaced while in daily use. As with the 1975 replacement work, this was facilitated by a series of separate nighttime and weekend closures to replace one section at a time. The old suspended section was lowered to a barge, and the new lighter and wider
orthotropic deck
An orthotropic bridge or orthotropic deck is typically one whose fabricated deck consists of a structural steel deck plate stiffened either longitudinally with ribs or transversely, or in both directions. This allows the fabricated deck both t ...
section raised into place and connected. A total of 47 sections were used before being paved. The new deck was designed with the two pedestrian walkways cantilevered to the outside of the suspension cables and the three road lanes widened from each. As a result of the 2001 replacement, the 63-year-old suspension bridge, which was described as "not designed for durability", had its lifespan extended.
In July 2009, the bridge's lighting system was updated with new
LED
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresp ...
lights to replace its system of 100-watt mercury vapour bulbs. The switch to LEDs was expected to reduce power consumption on the bridge by 90 percent and save the provincial government about $30,000 a year in energy and maintenance costs.
In 2020, a project to decrease the likelihood of a boat accident was completed.
In May 2022, a project to replace the lane control signals with new LED ones was completed.
In late 2023, the northern approach was repaved.
In popular culture
*The bridge is the
namesake
A namesake is a person, place, or thing bearing the name of another. Most commonly, it refers to an individual who is purposely named after another (e.g. John F. Kennedy Jr would be the namesake of John F. Kennedy). In common parlance, it may ...
of locally founded film company
Lionsgate Films
Lionsgate Films (spelled as Lions Gate until 2005, and formerly Cinépix Film Properties until 1998) is a Canadian-American film production and distribution company founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 15, 1962. It was owned by Lionsga ...
.
*It was featured as a set for the opening scene in the 2011 film ''
Final Destination 5
''Final Destination 5'' is a 2011 American 3D supernatural horror film directed by Steven Quale and written by Eric Heisserer. It is the fifth installment in the ''Final Destination'' film series and serves as a prequel to the 2000 origi ...
,'' known fictionally as the "North Bay Bridge".
*The bridge is featured in the background of the "Vancouver Velocity" course in ''
Mario Kart Tour
is a 2019 kart racing mobile game developed and published by Nintendo for Android and iOS. It is the ninth game in the Mario Kart series. The game features biweekly, downloadable themed tours with different cups, each of which has three course ...
''.
Gallery
File:Lion's Gate Bridge at Sunset.JPG, Lions Gate Bridge at Sunset, 2013
File:Lions' Gate Bridge (from Stanley Park).jpg, Lions Gate Bridge from Downtown Vancouver
Downtown Vancouver is the central business district and the city centre list of neighbourhoods in Vancouver, neighbourhood of Vancouver, Canada, on the northwestern shore of the Burrard Peninsula in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. ...
File:Lions Gate Bridge at night.jpg, Lions Gate Bridge and North Vancouver from Prospect Point in Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a public park in British Columbia, Canada, that makes up the northwestern half of Vancouver's Downtown Vancouver, Downtown peninsula, surrounded by waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay, Vancouver, English Bay. The park bor ...
File:Lions Gate Bridge 4.jpg, Lions Gate Bridge from Stanley Park, 2013
File:LionsGateBridgeFromCypressViewpointWinterNight2012.JPG, Lions Gate Bridge in relation to Vancouver city and harbour, from Cypress Viewpoint, Dec 2012
File:Lions Gate Bridge (air).jpg, Lions Gate Bridge from floatplane
File:Lions Gate bridge.JPG, Lions Gate Bridge from Stanley Park, 2013
File:Lions Gate Bridge, Vancouver (44672850422).jpg, Lions Gate Bridge, Vancouver
File:Lions Gate BridgeI13 Vancouver BC Canada visit-world.jpg, Lions Gate Bridge 360 panorama, 2009
File:Lions-Gate-Bridge-North-Shore.jpg, Lions Gate Bridge as seen from the North Shore with Downtown Vancouver in the background, 2022
See also
*
1946 Vancouver Island earthquake
The 1946 Vancouver Island earthquake struck Vancouver Island on the coast of British Columbia, Canada, on June 23 at 10:15 a.m. with a magnitude estimated at 7.0 and 7.5 . The main shock epicenter occurred in the Forbidden Plateau area n ...
*
List of bridges
The list of bridges contains various notable bridges around the world. The list is sorted by continent, and within continents, sorted alphabetically by country.
Africa
Algeria
* Ouadi El Roukham Bridge
Botswana
*Kazungula Bridge (connects wit ...
*
List of bridges in Canada
This is a list of bridges and viaducts in Canada, including those for pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
Historical and architectural interest bridges
There are only a few covered bridges left in Canada. In Quebec, despite over 1,200 existing ...
*
Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, sister bridge
References
External links
1938 film about the construction of the bridge– the construction of the Lions Gate Bridge (illustrated with many photographs)
Bridges of Greater Vancouver*
{{Authority control
Bridges completed in 1938
Bridges in Greater Vancouver
Buildings and structures in Vancouver
Former segments of the Trans-Canada Highway
Former toll bridges in Canada
Historic buildings and structures in British Columbia
National Historic Sites in British Columbia
Road bridges in British Columbia
Roads with a reversible lane
Suspension bridges in Canada
Stanley Park
Tourism in Vancouver
Transport in West Vancouver