to better times

From Page 18

months-long, research for the book,

It’s the myths that most intrigued Luston, a resident of
Vancouver's West End and founding director of the Heritage
Vancouver Society.

“My favourite is the (story about the) bump in the middie
of the bridge,” recalls the author.

Popular belief is that the pronounced bump at the midway
point on the bridge deck was a construction mistake, thar the
bridge deck was started at each end and didn’t meer in the
middle. This, of course, is not truc, says Luxton.

The builders started in the middle and worked out.
“Obviously, it was a designed part of the bridge,” says Luxton,
who found the explanation in an engineering journal. “It turns
out that it had to do with how cheaply the bridge was built.
They basically wanted the maximum clearance at the centre but
with minimal curves to the bridge deck.” Curved sections
would have increased the expense. “They didn’t really curve it
in the way that most bridges are built. They just went straight
fine up.. Bump. Straight line down the other side,” says Luxton
with a laugh.

The notion that the bridge was “opened” during the Royal
Visit of 1939 is also “nonsense,” he says. “The King a and
Queen just drove over it, they didn't open anything.” The
bridge was officially opened three days cartier, on May 26,

- 1939, bur was open to traffic since late 1938.

‘As for recent debate over the bridge’s future and plans to
refurbish it, now under way, the book covers that too.

In fact, the idea for the book grew from efforts to preserve
the bridge when i it was threatened with replacement in 1993.

“Retaining the bridge was the right thing to do,” says
Luxton. “There’s a kind of romance to the Bridge ~ — the bridge
to better times. It’s a fascinating story and an incredible struc-
zure.”

Luxton and D’Acres will be on the North Shore for two
illustrated talks on Lions Gate: 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 25 at
West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Dr.; and 7:30

m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at North Vancouver City Library,
121 W. 14th St. The book is available for sale through most
North Shore booksellers.

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