Marpole Bridge, Railway crossing in Metro Vancouver, Canada.
Marpole Bridge was a steel swing bridge that crossed the North Arm of the Fraser River, connecting Vancouver and Richmond. The structure rotated mechanically to let ships pass through, which frequently interrupted road traffic.
The bridge was built in 1889 and served as the main link between Vancouver and Richmond for decades. After the Oak Street Bridge opened in 1957, it gradually transitioned to railway use only under Canadian Pacific Railway control.
The bridge served as the main daily passage for residents traveling between Vancouver and Richmond via the interurban streetcar line. It became woven into local routines as people crossed for work, shopping, and visiting family across the river.
The bridge is no longer open to public vehicle or pedestrian traffic and serves railway use exclusively. The best views are from the surrounding riverbanks and other nearby bridges that overlook this historic structure.
A barge collision in 1966 marked a turning point in the bridge's history and accelerated its conversion to rail-only use. This incident was critical in transforming it from a mixed-traffic crossing to a dedicated railway line.
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