Fifty-eight years later, the existing bridge is both inadequate to handle smoothly the traffic demand, and in need of costly maintenance. Accordingly, proposals for a new crossing have been sought.

Apart from the obvious need to satisfy transportation requirements, the major factors influencing the conceptual framework of the New Lions Gate proposal are:

• Population Growth: Vigorous growth is forecast for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. It is anticipated that from a 1991 base of 1.7 million, the poulation will grow to approx. 3 million by 2021.
• Livable Region Strategy: This type of growth cannot be well handled by pre-existing development patterns, which in the Lower Mainland consist mainly of slash and burn low-density single-family suburban development. Accordingly, the GVRD has developed a Livable Region Strategy based on a Compact Metropolitan Growth model. The goals of this plan are:
  • Protection of the Green Zone
  • Building Complete Communities
  • Achieve a Compact Metropolitan Region
  • Increase Transportation Choice

• Fiscal Restraint: All levels of government are facing a degree of budgetary difficulty. Given this environment, it is becoming increasingly common for the Crown to enter partnerships with private interests to promote public goals, and whether alone or in partnership it is now considered necessary to extract the maximum benefit from any large public infrastructure investments.

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