North Vancouver once ran a fleet of ferries across Burrard Inlet delivering passengers and cars to the city. On the Vancouver side the vessels jockeyed for space between a variety of vessels to off load their cargo. Foot passengers and cars had to cross the very busy CPR tracks that ran along the south shore, so the ferry company dug a short tunnel under the tracks that came out to Alexander Street.

This engineer’s drawing from the Vancouver Archives shows the proposed pedestrian tunnel. And the fire insurance map shows the final design. Today the ramp to the harbour is occupied by a pleasant Paul Merrick designed condo project. The shape is derived from the width of the former access ramp.