The bridge was built in 1937 and cost precisely $5,873,837.17. The bridge's total length including approach spans is 4978 ft, the main span is 1550 ft and the towers are 364 ft high.

Even as early as 1955, the bridge had reached its capacity with traffic sometimes reduced to a crawl at the North Vancouver entrance where 4 lanes sometimes merged into 1.

It was decided that the aging landmark would be re-decked and have its sidewalks moved to the sides of the main span on cantilevers. This would widen the roadway and add another 30 years of life to the bridge itself. The cost - over $70 Million.



Nickel Bros. House Moving Ltd. was contracted to remove and replace sections of the bridge, each section weighed approx. 120 tons.

The procedure for the replacement of these sections was as follows. The bridge would be shut down to traffic, American Bridge personal would then start the arduous job of cutting a section of bridge loose. Once freed, that section would be lowered some 200 feet down to a Nickel Bros. transporter waiting below. Nickel Bros. would then move the old panel out of the way to an area where it would be blocked up and later cut up for scrap. At the same time the new panel, on a 2nd transporter was moved into position where it would be hoisted into place. American Bridge personal would then spend the next several hours re-attaching the new section to the old.

The panels which ran between the two towers, were raised and placed directly from barges below and did not require any assistance from Nickel Bros.

Nickel Bros. House Moving Ltd. was again called upon to help with the replacement of deck sections from the South Tower, south into Stanley Park. Downtown Vancouver visitors must travel through Stanley Park in order to reach North and West Vancouver.

The procedure for the replacement of these sections was quite different. At the south end the land under the bridge was not conducive to the moving of panels from below so a different procedure was required. Nickel Bros. helped American Bridge design and implement a system which would allow the removal and replacement of the remaining 15 panels each weighing about 60 tons).

One Nickel Bros. transporter would approach the panel for removal from the south, while at the same time the new panel on an identical transporter was being backed across the bridge from the north. American Bridge personal would free the old section of bridge, raise it and turn it 90 degrees. The panels had to be turned in order to fit between the main cable supports. Once turned Nickel Bros. would back their southbound transporter into position with the tail section of the transporter spanning the gap. The transporter would be blocked up at the north end of the bridge and the old section of bridge would then be lowered onto the tail section. Nickel Bros. would then "skate" (roll) the old deck some 45 ' forward onto the main frame of the transporter where the weight of the panel would be evenly distributed.

The weight distribution on the bridge and the old deck was of considerable concern to the engineers involved in the project and was monitored at all times. Once the dollies and tractor had raised the load off the north supports, the panel would be moved out to the south into the Stanley Park Causeway where it would be blocked up, cut up and hauled away in smaller pieces. Meanwhile the new panel of bridge on a second transporter was being backed across the bridge from the north.

Try to imagine backing up a distance of approx. 3000 feet with a load 65 ' long, 38 ' wide weighing some 60 tons with a tail section extending your load another 45' with only 3 inches of clearance on both sides. Once the tail section had spanned the opening, the new bridge deck would be skated over the opening, raised up by the American Bridge people, turned 90 degrees and lowered into place after Nickel Bros. had removed their truck and tail section.

This process had to be repeated for every panel from the South Tower with the exception the last panel. It is too wide to back across the bridge therefore it will be moved in from the south where it will be hoisted and put into place by a crane.

This was an enormous undertaking, but Nickel Bros. proved worthy to the task. The final bridge section, Panel # 54 is slated for replacement on Saturday September 29/01. This will conclude Nickel Bros. involvement in the Lions Gate Deck Replacement Project. This will also act as a testament to Nickel Bros. ability.