How about a bridge that has been rebuilt not once but twice? That is Granville Bridge. This eight-lane cantilever truss bridge connects Downtown Vancouver and the Fairview neighborhood. Granville Bridge spans False Creek. It stands 90 feet above Granville Island. It is also part of Highway 99.
The first Granville Bridge opened in 1889. It crossed from Beach Ave to 3rd Ave. This was part of a plan to clear Granville Street. It would run to the North Arm of the Fraser River. A bridge there crossed to the farming community of Eburne. South of False Creek, Granville Street was once called Centre Street. The new path through the forest was first known as North Arm Road. The Canadian Pacific Railway designed the low timber trestle bridge. It opened on January 4 and cost $16000. It had a swing span near downtown. It was wide enough for two wagons. A separated path existed on the west side for pedestrians. Children even swam from it in the summer.
Two years later, the CPR cleared Fairview Slopes. They opened them for settlement. The street railway company ran a single track on the east side of the bridge. It was for the Fairview Belt Line. This connected Granville Street, 9th Avenue, and Main Street with downtown. The hope was that it would spur development.
The second Granville Bridge appeared in 1909. It was a longer steel bridge. It had a through truss swing span. During World War I, a fire broke out on the bridge in 1915. Arson was suspected and four Germans were arrested.
The current Granville Bridge opened on February 4, 1954. Five thousand spectators attended the dedication ceremony. The Vancouver Sun arranged for Sidney Annoot, the first driver across the 1909 bridge, to repeat her feat in 1954. The city funded the project. It cost $16.5 million. Mayor Frederick Hume noted that no formal assistance was given by any other government body. A million vehicles crossed it in its first month.
Built from 1951 to 1954, the eight-lane structure stands on the same alignment as the first bridge. Steel plate girders from the second bridge became barges. These were used to construct the foundations of the Oak Street Bridge. Initially, only four lanes were open. The loop ramps on the north side were completed on July 16. The bridge’s wide design was intended for a future freeway that would serve downtown. Those plans were cancelled in the 1960s. Recent improvements include earthquake resistance upgrades. Higher curbs and median barriers have also been installed.
In December 2017, Vancouver City Council approved a plan to remove the Granville Loops. These cloverleaf off-ramps connect the bridge with Pacific Street. This opened the land for redevelopment. A seismic retrofit of the Granville Street Bridge began in late 2018. It was completed in September 2021.
In January 2019, Vancouver City Council announced plans for a separated bike and walking path. It would be in the center of the bridge roadway. Construction on the pedestrian and bicycle lanes began in February 2023. It is expected to take two years. So now you know the story of the Granville Bridge. It is a testament to Vancouver’s growth. It is a vital link connecting different parts of the city.