Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing
The Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing, also called the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and Second Narrows Bridge, is the second bridge constructed at the Second Narrows of Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Originally named the Second Narrows Bridge, it connects Vancouver to the North Shore of Burrard Inlet, which includes the North [Vancouver, British Columbia (district municipality)|District of North Vancouver], the North Vancouver, [British Columbia (city)|City of North Vancouver], and West Vancouver. It was constructed adjacent to the older Second Narrows Bridge, which is now exclusively a rail bridge. Its construction, from 1956 to 1960, was marred by a multi-death collapse on June 17, 1958. The First Narrows Bridge, better known as Lions Gate Bridge, crosses Burrard Inlet about west of the Second Narrows.
The bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge, designed by Swan Wooster Engineering Co. Ltd. Construction began in November 1957, and the bridge was officially opened on August 25, 1960. It cost approximately $23 million to build. Tolls were charged until April 1, 1963.
The bridge is long with a centre span of. It is part of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Collapse
On June 17, 1958, as a crane stretched from the north side of the new bridge to join the two chords of the unfinished arch, several spans collapsed. Seventy-nine workers plunged into the water. Eighteen were killed either instantly or shortly thereafter, possibly drowned by their heavy tool belts. A diver searching for bodies drowned later, bringing the total fatalities for the collapse to nineteen. In a subsequent Royal Commission inquiry, the bridge collapse was attributed to miscalculation by bridge engineers. A temporary steel box support at the base of the falsework, holding the newly built fifth anchor span, was deemed insufficient to bear the weight. The falsework plans were drawn by a junior engineer and the error not noticed by the supervising engineer.Earlier, in 1957, a steelworker had fallen to his death at the bridge. But in December 1957, a safety inspector from the BC Workmen's Compensation Board reported that the installation of a safety net under the work platforms was "impracticable".