The Lions Gate bridge seen from Prospect Point in Stanley Park Vancouver BC connects Vancouver to the north shore. On the lower left is the Lions Gate primary sewage treatment plant. To the right of the bridge is land belonging to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
THE LIONS GATE BRIDGE:
The Lions Gate Bridge, opened in 1938, officially known as the First Narrows Bridge, is a suspension bridge that crosses the first narrows of Burrard Inlet and connects the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, to the North Shore municipalities of the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and West Vancouver. 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.
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 March 24, 2005, the Lions Gate Bridge was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
History
Starting about 1890, bridge builders saw that a bridge across the first narrows was becoming a possibility. There were a number who argued against its construction, as many felt it would ruin Stanley Park or cause problems for the busy seaport or that it would take toll revenue away from the Second Narrows Bridge. However, many others saw it as necessary in order to open up development on the North Shore and it was felt that these problems could be overcome. The decision was put to the electorate of Vancouver in 1927, but the first plebiscite was defeated and the idea was put to rest for a short while.
Alfred James Towle Taylor, who had been part of this proposal and still owned the provincial franchise to build the bridge, did not have the finances to purchase the necessary large sections of property in North Vancouver and West Vancouver. However, he was able to convince the Guinness family (of the Irish beer fame) to invest in the land on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. They purchased 4,700 acres (16 km²) of West Vancouver mountainside through a syndicate called British Pacific Properties Ltd.
On December 13, 1933, a second plebiscite was held and this time, it was passed by a 2 to 1 margin. 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 bridge was designed by the Montreal firm Monsarrat and Pratley, which was later responsible for the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge in Halifax, Nova Scotia using a similar design. Other companies involved in the construction of the bridge include: Swan Wooster Engineering, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc., Canron Western Constructors, Dominion Bridge Company, American Bridge Company.
Construction began on March 31, 1937. After one and a half years and a cost of $5,873,837.17 (CAD), it opened to traffic on November 14, 1938. On May 29, 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presided over the official opening during a royal visit to Canada. A toll of 25 cents was charged for each car. On January 20, 1955, the Guinness family sold the bridge to the province for $5,959,060, and in 1963, the tolls were dropped. The newly constructed bridge differed from the current configuration of the bridge as it originally had only two lanes. Yet, as had been foreseen, West Vancouver’s population boomed as a result of the new connection. Thus, to accommodate the increased population, the lanes were divided into three with the middle lane acting as a passing lane. Another difference with the original configuration was that in an effort to recover the expenditure it cost to build the bridge, the Guinness family had toll booths installed. The toll booths remained on the bridge until 1963, at which time the bridge was purchased by the provincial government for the same price that it took to build it. Changes were made shortly after the takeover, as the tolls were removed and the overhead lane controls were added. The Guinnesses’ last involvement with the bridge happened in 1986, when they added lights to the bridge as an Expo '86 gift.
In 1975, the deteriorating north viaduct was replaced with a lighter, wider, and stronger steel deck 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.
LIONS GATE SEWAGE PLANT:
Metro Vancouver is required to build a new secondary treatment plant for the North Shore by 2020, to comply with regulations and standards adopted by federal and provincial environment ministers.
The existing Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of two remaining primary treatment plants in the region. New federal and provincial standards require all primary treatment plants be upgraded to secondary treatment. To meet these requirements, and to fulfill the commitment made in Metro Vancouver’s Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management Plan, Metro Vancouver will build the new secondary treatment plant at a site approximately two kilometres east of the existing treatment plant.
The Lion’s Gate wastewater treatment plant treated 32 billion litres of wastewater in 2012. Located in West Vancouver at 101 Bridge Road, the plant provides primary treatment to wastewater from about 180,000 residents in the District of West Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and the District of North Vancouver. Once treated, wastewater is discharged into the Burrard Inlet.
The existing Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant opened in 1961. While its capacity has been expanded several times since it opened, the plant is one of two primary treatment plants remaining in the region. New federal and provincial standards require all primary treatment plants be upgraded to secondary treatment. To meet these requirements, Metro Vancouver will build a new secondary treatment plant , at a site approximately two kilometres east of the existing treatment plant.
The wastewater treatment plant is regulated through an Operational Certificate issued by the BC Ministry of Environment. The treated wastewater that is discharged from the plant is required to meet standards for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. Discharged wastewater from the plant must not exceed 130 mg/L for both biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The plant’s daily average was 90 mg/L for biochemical oxygen demand and 54 mg/L for total suspended solids in 2012.
Recovering resources from wastewater:
The treatment plant uses anaerobic digestion to break down organic materials from wastewater to produce about 2150 bulk tonnes of biosolids every year. The anaerobic digestion process also produces methane gas, which is used to generate heat for use in the plant’s operations and in gas-fired pumps to pump the wastewater.
Construction of the new facility, expected to be completed by 2020, will enhance environmental protection and fulfill the commitment made in Metro Vancouver’s Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management Plan.
PROJECT UPDATE - November 2013 INDICATIVE DESIGN
The Project Definition Phase is almost complete with the development of a recommended Indicative Design. The Project Definition Phase has been guided by an Integrative Design Process (IDP) that brings together technical experts, community interests, and decision makers. In early 2013, design ideas and concepts were screened and three build scenarios prepared. These scenarios have been reviewed throughout 2013. The Indicative Design combines the best components from the three build scenarios and will define the scope of work for the new plant.
The Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee recommended that the Metro Vancouver Board endorse the Indicative Design, as summarized in the “Lions Gate Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant Indicative Design Summary Report”, on November 5. The Indicative Design was endorsed by the Metro Vancouver Board on November 15, 2013.
TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATION
Pronounced: tSLAY-wah-tooth.
Translates to: "The People of the Inlet".
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation, formerly known as the Burrard Indian Band or Burrard Band, is a First Nations government in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. The Tsleil-Waututh are Coast Salish people who speak the Downriver dialect of the Halkomelem language, and are closely related to but politically separate from the nearby Nation of the Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Musqueam First Nations.
The Tsleil-waututh Nation is a member government of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council, which includes other governments on the upper Sunshine Coast, southeastern Vancouver Island and the Tsawwassen band on the other side of the Vancouver metropolis from the Tsleil-waututh.
Numbering about 500 people, the Tsleil-Waututh are among the most progressive First Nations in British Columbia.
The most famous member of the Tsleil-Waututh was Chief Dan George, an actor and native rights advocate best known for his role as Old Lodge Skins in Little Big Man and for another role as Old Antoine in the CBCtelevision series Cariboo Cowboy (based on books by Paul St. Pierre). His descendants still figure prominently in band government and culture. The band is also known for its war canoe racing team, Takaya (wolves). The band operates a war-canoe tour/experience known as Takaya Tours.