The Philosophical Fish

The Photo

•  
  

  The Lion's Gate Bridge

  There’s nothing like a good hunk of metal against a sky to call out for black and white processing…

  View full size image on Flickr

   

  The Story

  The Lion’s Gate Bridge separates the North Shore (North and West Vancouver) from downtown Vancouver. To me, when I cross it in a northern direction, it means home…

  Officially known as the First Narrows Bridge, the Lion’s Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the first narrows of Burrard Inlet. The term “Lions Gate” reflects the Lions, a pair of mountain peaks north of Vancouver.
  The total length of the bridge including the north viaduct is 1,823 metres (5,890 feet). The length including approach spans is 1,517.3 m (4,978 ft), the main span alone is 473 m (1,550 ft), the tower height is 111 m (364 ft), and it has a ship’s clearance of 61 m (200 ft). Prospect Point in Stanley Park 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 reversible lanes, the use of which is indicated by signals. 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 13 tonnes (14.3 tons) are prohibited, as are vehicles using studded tires. The bridge forms part of Highways 99 and 1A.

  On 24 March 2005, the Lions Gate Bridge was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.