The Fraser Street Bridge : 1894-1974

Once upon a time there was a Fraser Street Bridge that connected The City of South Vancouver to Richmond. It was considered the primary gateway into Vancouver. This was prior to the existence of the Knight Street and Oak Street Bridges.

The Fraser Bridge opened in 1894 as a wooden two-lane bridge that connected Fraser Street to No. 5 Road in Richmond. It was expensive to maintain and was subject to damages and impairments over the years. Finally, it was decommissioned for use in 1974 when the Knight Street Bridge opened for traffic and was originally to be named “the Fraser St. Bridge replacement.” The Fraser Street Bridge was then subsequently dismantled over the next three years.

Further details can be found as you scroll though each photograph.

Write up courtesy of R Johal, South Vancouver Changes Facebook

Photos courtesy of: City of Richmond Archives

Angus McIntyre

Alan Dawne

City of Vancouver Archives

*These photos have been colorized.

 

1918 - Fraser Street Bridge from the Richmond side headed North into South Vancouver
1918 – Fraser Street Bridge from the Richmond side headed North into South Vancouver
1922 - Fraser Street Bridge
1922 – Fraser Street Bridge
1930s - Fraser Street Bridge
1930s – Fraser Street Bridge
1955 - Fraser Street Bridge
1955 – Fraser Street Bridge
1965 - Traffic headed to South Vancouver from Richmond
1965 – Traffic headed to South Vancouver from Richmond
1965 - Traffic headed to South Vancouver from Richmond
1965 – Traffic headed to South Vancouver from Richmond
Vancouver Sun, June 23, 1966 - report of barge smashing into the Fraser Street Bridge
Vancouver Sun, June 23, 1966 – report of barge smashing into the Fraser Street Bridge
1968 - Fraser Street Bridge
1968 – Fraser Street Bridge
1972 - Looking North from Twigg Island
1972 – Looking North from Twigg Island
1972 - Looking north into South Vancouver from south end of the swing span
1972 – Looking north into South Vancouver from south end of the swing span
1972 - Looking south on Fraser Street at N. Kent Street, just south of Marine Drive. The swing span is in the distance
1972 – Looking south on Fraser Street at N. Kent Street, just south of Marine Drive. The swing span is in the distance
1972 - The final approach to the Fraser Street swing span bridge from Vancouver
1972 – The final approach to the Fraser Street swing span bridge from Vancouver
1975 - Kaboom! One of the concrete piers from the Fraser St. Bridge is blasted out of existence
1975 – Kaboom! One of the concrete piers from the Fraser St. Bridge is blasted out of existence
Fraser Street Bridge traffic heading from South Vancouver into Richmond
Fraser Street Bridge traffic heading from South Vancouver into Richmond