Crosscut Bridge opens new connection to Lynn Valley

A new bridge over Highway 1 is reconnecting North Shore neighbourhoods that have been separated for more than six decades. The City of North Vancouver officially opened the Crosscut Bridge on August 20. The new pedestrian and cycling overpass stretches from Loutet Park to the intersection of Casano Drive and Rufus Avenue. For Lynn Valley, the bridge creates another connection to neighbouring communities south of the Upper Levels Highway. It provides a safer route for people travelling on foot, by bike or using other forms of active transportation.

The Cedar Village and Loutet communities were separated when the Trans-Canada Highway was extended from Mountain Highway to Lynn Valley Road in 1961. More than 60 years later, pedestrians and cyclists can cross the highway without mixing with highway traffic.

“This bridge marks the beginning of a new chapter for our city,” City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan said at the opening. “It will serve thousands of people every year in countless ways, whether it be getting to school, to work, shops or services or simply to recreate.”

The bridge also helps connect two important hubs: the City of North Vancouver and Lynn Valley. It links with existing and planned active transportation routes, including the Green Necklace, Salop Trail, Upper Levels Greenway and Eastside Connector. Together, these connections can make it easier to reach Lynn Valley and other parts of the North Shore without a car.

For students, the timing is significant. Sutherland Secondary students who live east of the highway will have a more direct route to school when classes return in September. The bridge was also designed for people of different ages and abilities. It includes accessible approach pathways and a 4.5-metre-wide concrete surface for walking, cycling and rolling. Lighting, safety fencing, handrails, seating, a water fountain and wayfinding signs have also been included.

The connection could also create new opportunities for seniors. Members of the North Shore chapter of Cycling Without Age were among the first people to use the bridge. The volunteer organization provides trishaw rides for seniors and looks for routes that can be travelled safely.

“Crosscut allows us to take [seniors] somewhere that they wouldn’t normally be able to get to,” volunteer Leslie Mak said. “For us, it’s a huge opening of a new place to ride.”

The bridge has been years in the making. Discussions about a pedestrian overpass in the area began in the early 2000s. City council directed work on the project in 2014, followed by community engagement and design development in 2017. Construction started in March 2025.