Moray Bridge

The Moray Bridge, a.k.a. the Moray Channel Bridge, and formerly the Middle Arm Bridge, is a crossing over the middle arm of the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver. Richard Moody, who would name geographical features, such as this channel, after acquaintances, honoured Jonathan Moray (1824–84), a sergeant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, and later the New Westminster police chief.[1]

Moray Bridge
Coordinates49°11′31″N 123°08′13″W
CarriesTwo lanes of Sea Island Way, pedestrians and bicycles
CrossesMiddle Arm Fraser River
LocaleRichmond
Official nameMoray Channel Bridge
Maintained byProvince of BC
Characteristics
Designswing bridge
History
Opened1957
Location

History

Structure

Opened in July 1957, the same date as the Oak Street Bridge, these links replaced the Marpole Bridge (road). The new configuration created a more circuitous route between Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport (YVR), not restored until the Arthur Laing Bridge opened in 1975.

The concrete and steel second bridge across the Moray Channel cost about $1m, of which the federal government contributed $400,000.[2] The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for BC owns and maintains this low-level two-lane bridge.[3] The centre swing span is 53 metres, and the approaches are 170 metres on Lulu Island, and 124 metres on Sea Island.[4]

Within a few years of construction, scouring required repairing and surrounding the protection piers with rock.[5][6] The expansion joints were repaired in 1962–63.[7] Attached to the western approach, the tender house was replaced the following year.[8] This small building houses the human operator of the swing-span controls. In 1980–81, major pier protection was undertaken.[9]

Sea Island Bridge (left) and Moray Bridge (right).

Roadways

Prior to the 1969 opening of the Dinsmore Bridge, the Moray Bridge was the only crossing in existence. Consequently, when the span malfunctioned, as it did twice in 1961, traffic could be trapped for several hours. The non-arrival of passengers and crew delayed some airport flights.[10] Mechanical and electrical issues continue to plague the span.[11]

The single lane each way, 1957–2001, was subject to traffic congestion from vehicle accidents, swing span openings for boats, or rush hour volumes. Linking Sea Island Way on Lulu Island and Miller Rd on Sea Island, the roadway intersected Airport Rd.[12] On construction in the late 1970s, Russ Baker Way became the new intersection, making Airport Rd. (south) a cul-de-sac. Prior to 2001, Airport Rd. (north) leading to Grauer Rd., and Cessna Dr., branched at the foot of the bridge. Following the 2001 opening of the Sea Island Connector, the Moray Bridge has carried only eastbound traffic from YVR. The only unrestricted vehicle access is from Grant McConachie Way.

Transit
Ongoing routes, former routes, and closest stops

The following TransLink services continue to use the bridge:[13]

  • 412 Bridgeport Station /Sea Island South (Aug 2018 renumbered)[17]
    0C92 Sea Island South / Bridgeport Station (Sep 2009 eastern terminus)[18]
    0C92 Sea Island South / Airport Station (c. May 2005 renumbered and renamed)[19][20]0a
    0425 Airport South / Airport Station (Apr 2001 eastern terminus)[21]0a
    0425 Airport South / Richmond Exchange (May 1984 renamed)[22]
    0425 Sea Island (commencement unclear)

^a . Bridge excluded from route during this period


The following routes once used the bridge:

  • 64 No. Four Road (Jul 1976 after route extended as Airport-Ladner Exchange;[23] Aug 1977 renumbered 404)
  • 65 No. Five Road (Jul 1976 after route extended as Airport-Ladner Exchange;[23] Aug 1977 renumbered 405)
  • 71 Airport Road (Jul 1957 after Marpole Bridge closure;[24][25] Feb 1958 renamed 71 Airport, and Sexsmith Loop eastern terminus;[12] September 1968 likely discontinued on Vancouver International Airport (YVR) new terminal opening[26] that would be served by existing 72)[12]
  • 72 Grauer Road (Jul 1957 after Marpole Bridge closure;[24][25] Feb 1958 renamed 72 Miller, and Sexsmith Loop eastern terminus;[12] Jul 1976 probably discontinued when 64 extended)
  • 98 B-Line (Aug 2001 Brighouse eastern terminus;[21][27][28] Sep 2009 discontinued)[18]
  • 301 Airport Station / Newton Exchange (Sep 2004;[15] Nov 2005 Richmond Centre western terminus)[29]
  • 402 No. Two Road / Vancouver (May 1986 during peak periods rerouted from Oak Street Bridge;[30] April 2001 renamed 402 Two Road / Bridgeport)[21][27]
  • 404 No. Four Road (formerly 64; Aug 1977 renumbered;[31] May 1984 renamed 404 Four Road;[22] Oct 2001 Airport Station western terminus;[32] Sep 2009 Richmond–Brighouse station western terminus)[18]
  • 405 No. Five Road (formerly 65; Aug 1977 renumbered;[31] May 1984 renamed 405 Five Road;[22] c. June 1993 Richmond Exchange western terminus)[33][34]
  • 407 Gilbert / Vancouver (May 1986 during peak periods rerouted from Oak Street Bridge;[30] April 2001 renamed 407 Gilbert / Richmond Centre)[21][27]
  • 408 Garden City / Richmond Exchange / Vancouver (May 1986 during peak periods rerouted from Oak Street Bridge;[30] April 2001 discontinued, and merged into 401 One Road / Garden City)[21][27]
  • 411 Steveston / Vancouver (December 1992 peak period express;[35] Sep 1993 rerouted over Dinsmore Bridge)[34]
  • 620 Tsawwassen Ferry / Airport Station (Apr 2004;[36] Sep 2009 Bridgeport Station western terminus)[18]
  • C90 Sea Island North / Bridgeport Station (Sep 2009 extended;[18] Sep 2012 discontinued)[37]


The nearest bus stops are N10 and 412 (see above) at Airport Station on Sea Island, and east of the bridge on Sea Island Way.[13]

Templeton station is the closest rail transit.


Now largely deserted, the once significant Airport Station bus exchange, beside the Sea Island approach, has a bus-only on-ramp to the bridge.


See also


Footnotes
  1. Dawe 1996, p. 67.
  2. Dawe 1996, pp. 64–65.
  3. "Transportation Agencies". www.richmond.ca.
  4. Dawe 1996, p. 65.
  5. "Highways Annual Report 1960–61". www.open.library.ubc.ca. p. I77.
  6. "Highways Annual Report 1961–62". www.open.library.ubc.ca. p. J83.
  7. "Highways Annual Report 1962–63". www.open.library.ubc.ca. p. C81.
  8. "Highways Annual Report 1963–64". www.open.library.ubc.ca. p. C88.
  9. "Transportation and Highways Annual Report 1980–81". www.open.library.ubc.ca. p. 270.
  10. Dawe 1996, pp. 65–66.
  11. "Richmond News, 23 Jul 2019". www.richmond-news.com.
  12. "Image: Transit route maps, 1958". www.vancouver.ca. Evergreen Press for BCER.
  13. "Bus routes". www.translink.ca.
  14. "Buzzer blog, 20 Dec 2010". www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  15. "The Buzzer, 3 Sep 2004" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  16. "The Buzzer, 24 Apr 2006" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  17. "Buzzer blog, 30 Aug 2018". www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  18. "The Buzzer, Canada Line opening, 4 Sep 2009". www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  19. "TransLink route map, c. May 2005". www.researchgate.net.
  20. "The Buzzer, 1 Sep 2006" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  21. "The Buzzer, 30 Mar 2001" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink. Bus strike Apr–Aug
  22. "The Buzzer, 25 May 1984" (PDF). www.translink.ca. Metro Transit.
  23. "The Buzzer, 24 Sep 1976" (PDF). www.translink.ca. BC Hydro.
  24. "Image: Transit route maps, 1950". www.vancouver.ca. Challenger Cartographers for BCER.
  25. "The Buzzer, 8 Nov 1957" (PDF). www.translink.ca. BCER.
  26. "The Buzzer, 19 Aug 1966" (PDF). www.translink.ca. BC Hydro.
  27. "Implementation of 98 B-line" (PDF). www.richmond.ca.
  28. "The Buzzer, 8 Aug 2001" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  29. "The Buzzer, 25 Nov 2005" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  30. "The Buzzer, 30 Apr 1986" (PDF). www.translink.ca. BC Transit.
  31. "The Buzzer, 12 Aug 1977" (PDF). www.translink.ca. BC Hydro.
  32. "TransLink Media, 15 Oct 2001" (PDF). www.translink.ca.
  33. "The Buzzer, 23 Apr 1993" (PDF). www.translink.ca. BC Transit.
  34. "The Buzzer, 27 Aug 1993" (PDF). www.translink.ca. BC Transit.
  35. "The Buzzer, 4 Dec 1992" (PDF). www.translink.ca. BC Transit.
  36. "The Buzzer, 30 Apr 2004" (PDF). www.translink.ca. TransLink.
  37. "The Buzzer, 31 Aug 2012". www.translink.ca. TransLink.


References
  • Dawe, Alan (1996). Richmond and its Bridges. City of Richmond Archives. ISBN 0-9690031-2-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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