Morey Channel

Gazing across Morey Channel, can you imagine this waterway bustling with activity, a vital link between Lulu Island and Sea Island? Morey Channel might seem like a quiet backwater today, but its history is intertwined with the growth of Vancouver and its airport. The channel’s namesake, Jonathan Moray, a Royal Engineer and later New Westminster’s police chief, likely never envisioned the dramatic changes this waterway would witness. Opened in 1957, the Morey Bridge, originally the Middle Arm Bridge, became a crucial artery. It joined the Oak Street Bridge in replacing the older Marpole Bridge. This new route to the airport, while initially more roundabout until the Arthur Laing Bridge opened in 1975, was essential for the growing city. This bridge, a swing bridge, isn’t just a road for cars and bicycles. Its central swing span, 53 meters long, allows larger vessels passage through Morey Channel, a testament to the waterway’s continued importance. The approaches to this swing span stretch 170 meters on Lulu Island and 124 meters on Sea Island. Imagine the engineering feat of constructing this concrete and steel structure, a million-dollar project in the 1950s. The bridge, however, hasn’t been without its challenges. Scouring around the piers necessitated repairs and rock reinforcement within its first few years. Expansion joints needed work in the early 1960s, and the tender house, home to the swing span operator, was replaced in 1963. Even into the 1980s, significant pier protection was required, showcasing the constant battle against the powerful Fraser River. Before the Dinsmore Bridge opened in 1969, Morey Channel was the sole crossing point. Any malfunction, like the two incidents in 1961, resulted in traffic chaos, sometimes delaying airport flights. These weren’t just minor inconveniences; they underscore the Morey Bridge’s crucial role in Vancouver’s infrastructure. Today, after the 2001 opening of the Sea Island Connector, the Morey Bridge carries only eastbound traffic from the airport. Access is now primarily from Grant McConachie Way. Morey Channel, though seemingly unassuming, holds a significant piece of Vancouver’s history.