View source for Cambie Street

{{Short description|Street in Vancouver, Canada}}
{{Infobox street
| name                    = Cambie Street
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| image                   = Intersection of Cambie Street and Marine Drive, Vancouver.jpg
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| caption                 =The intersection of Cambie Street and Southwest Marine Drive, looking northward from the [[Marine Drive Station|Marine Drive]] [[Canada Line]] station.
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| part_of                 = 
| namesake                = [[Henry John Cambie]]
| type                    = [[Street]]
| owner                   = [[Vancouver|City of Vancouver]]
| maint                   = [[Vancouver|City of Vancouver]]
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| location                = [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]
| metro                   = {{rail-interchange|vancouver|canada|size=16}} [[Canada Line]]
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| embedded                = 
{{Infobox street|embed = yes
| name = '''Main Section'''
| length = {{cvt|7.7|km|mi}}<ref name=length>{{google maps |title=Cambie Street (Vancouver) |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2298425,-123.1612809,12.81z |access-date=August 21, 2021}}</ref>
| direction_a = South
| terminus_a = Kent Avenue N
| junction = SW Marine Drive<br />41st Avenue<br />[[Broadway (Vancouver)|Broadway]]
| direction_b = North
| terminus_b = Smithe Street&nbsp;/<br />Nelson Street
| embedded = 
{{Infobox street|embed = yes
| name = '''Downtown Section'''
| length = {{cvt|1.4|km|mi}}<ref name=length/>
| direction_a = Southwest
| terminus_a = Pacific Boulevard
| junction = Nelson Street<br/>Smithe Street<br/>[[Georgia Street]]<br/>[[Hastings Street (Vancouver)|Hastings Street]]
| direction_b = Northeast
| terminus_b = [[Water Street (Vancouver)|Water Street]]
}} }}
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| known_for               = Cambie Village, [[Queen Elizabeth Park, British Columbia|Queen Elizabeth Park]] [[Oakridge Centre|Oakridge Mall]]
| status                  =
}}

'''Cambie Street''' is a street in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada.  It is named for [[Henry John Cambie]], chief [[surveying|surveyor]] of the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]'s western division<ref name="Walker">{{Cite book| last = Walker | first = Elizabeth | title = Street Names of Vancouver | publisher = Vancouver Historical Society | year = 1999 | pages = 18  | isbn = 0-9692378-7-1}}</ref> (as is Cambie Road, a major thoroughfare in nearby [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]]).

There are two distinct sections of the street. North of [[False Creek]], the street runs on a northeast–southwest alignment (following the rotated street grid within [[Downtown Vancouver]]). As such, the street direction is approximately 45 degrees to that of the [[Cambie Bridge]], and there is no seamless connection between the two. Instead, Nelson Street carries southbound traffic onto the bridge, and Smithe Street carries northbound traffic away from the bridge. The downtown section of Cambie Street runs from [[Water Street, Vancouver|Water Street]] in [[Gastown]] in the north to Pacific Boulevard in [[Yaletown]] in the south and is a [[two-way street]] for its length.

South of False Creek, the street is a major six-lane arterial road, and runs as a two-way north–south thoroughfare according to the street grid for the rest of Vancouver. This section of the street was originally named '''Bridge Street''', and was first connected to Cambie Street after the first Cambie Bridge opened in 1891; it was renamed Cambie Street after the second Cambie Bridge opened in 1912.<ref name="Walker"/>

Between [[King Edward Avenue (Vancouver)|King Edward Avenue West]] and [[Marine Drive (Greater Vancouver)|Southwest Marine Drive]], the street has a 10 metre wide [[boulevard]] with grass and many well established trees on it; the boulevard was designated as a heritage landscape by the city of Vancouver in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/transport/rto/pdf/cambieheritageboulevard.pdf |title=Cambie Heritage Boulevard |publisher=Rapid Transit Office, City of Vancouver |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/heritage/Fact5.htm |title=Municipally Designated Buildings in Vancouver |publisher=City of Vancouver |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref>

==Canada Line construction==
{{stack|float=left|[[File:Canada Line Construction, Vancouver, Cambie Street at 25th.jpg|thumb|left|Cut-and-cover construction on Cambie Street, north of 25th Avenue (taken in February 2007).]]}}
When proposals to build [[SkyTrain (Vancouver)|SkyTrain]]'s [[Canada Line]] (formerly known as the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver or RAV Line) along Cambie Street first emerged, they were heavily protested by residents and business owners who wanted to keep the street as a heritage boulevard. They argued in favour of using the existing Arbutus Street rail corridor instead.

Once the decision was made to use the Cambie alignment for the Canada Line anyway, residents along the corridor successfully persuaded authorities to put the rail line in a [[tunnel]] instead of running it as a surface route, and to dig the tunnel using a [[tunnel boring machine]]. However, due to cost concerns and time constraints, the winning bidder decided to use a [[cut-and-cover]] method to build the tunnel – which required disruption to traffic and business along the corridor during the construction. As such, even though it cost less and was much faster than using a tunnel boring machine,<ref name="Straight090528">{{cite news |url=https://www.straight.com/article-224070/cambie-merchants-court-victory-linked-defendants-failure-mitigate-effects-canada-line |title=Ex-Cambie merchant's court victory linked to defendants' failure to mitigate effects of Canada Line |date=2009-05-28 |newspaper=Georgia Straight|author=Smith, Charlie |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref> the plan drew heavy criticism from area residents and businesses.<ref name="CBC090426">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/04/26/bc-cambie-reopens.html |title=Merchants, residents rejoice as Cambie Street construction ends |date=2009-04-26 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=2012-05-15}}</ref>

During 2006 to 2009, portions of the street south of False Creek were closed to traffic to allow for construction of the line.<ref name="CBC090426"/> The cut-and-cover tunnel runs underneath the east side of the street for most of its route. South of West 63rd Avenue, the line emerges from the tunnel and runs on an elevated structure across the [[Fraser River]].

[[Gregor Robertson (politician)|Gregor Robertson]], who later became the [[mayor of Vancouver]], was a strong supporter of Cambie Street merchants and spoke regularly about hardships from the Canada Line construction.<ref name="cbctestify">[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-mayor-testifies-in-cambie-merchant-lawsuit-1.808267 "Vancouver mayor testifies in Cambie merchant lawsuit"], [[CBC News]], March 23, 2009.</ref>  He called the handling of the rail line construction an "injustice."<ref name="ctvcambie">[https://bc.ctvnews.ca/the-long-and-troubled-road-to-the-canada-line-1.426272 "The long and troubled road to the Canada Line"], [[CTV News]], August 17, 2009.</ref>

On March 23, 2009, Robertson testified in a lawsuit brought by Cambie Street merchant Susan Heyes, owner of Hazel & Co., in the [[B.C. Supreme Court]] regarding damage to her business from the construction,<ref name="cbctestify"/> a lawsuit for which she was awarded $600,000 by the B.C. Supreme Court due in part to the fact that there was insufficient action to mitigate the effects of Canada Line construction on Cambie Street merchants.<ref name="Straight090528"/> The award for damages was later reversed at the [[British Columbia Court of Appeal]], which determined that while the project had resulted in a legal [[nuisance]] to the claimant, the government had acted within its authority and was therefore not liable for damages. Leave for further appeal to the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] was subsequently denied. On the Canada Line's opening day of August 17, 2009, Robertson said Greater Vancouver needed more rapid transit but the Canada Line was a "great start" and that he was a "Johnny-come-lately" to the project.<ref name="nationalpostcanada">[https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1902216 "Vancouver's Canada Line starts up"], ''[[National Post]]'', August 17, 2009.</ref>

==Points of interest==
[[File:Cambie Street Median.JPG|thumb|Cambie Heritage Boulevard, looking southward from King Edward Avenue.]]
[[File:Gastownsteamclock2010.JPG|thumb|Steam clock at Cambie Street's northern end in [[Gastown]].]]
[[File:Van City Hall 2010 Flag.jpg|thumb|Vancouver City Hall]]

* The [[Gastown]] steam clock, located at the street's northern end, at its intersection with Water Street
* [[Victory Square, Vancouver|Victory Square]] and cenotaph, located on the west side of the street between [[Hastings Street (Vancouver)|Hastings]] and Pender streets
* The downtown campus of [[Vancouver Community College]], located at the intersection with Pender Street
* The [[Vancouver City Hall]], located on the street between 10th Avenue and 12th Avenue
* The [[Park Theatre (Vancouver)|Park Theatre]], at 18th Avenue, in "Cambie Village"
* [[Queen Elizabeth Park, British Columbia|Queen Elizabeth Park]], located east of the street between 29th Avenue and 37th Avenue
* [[Oakridge Centre]], shopping centre at 41st Avenue
* [[Langara College]], a community college at 49th Avenue
* [[St John Ambulance|St. John Ambulance]], Provincial Headquarters for one of BC's oldest charities

==Major intersections==
===Main section===
{{BCinttop|length_ref=<ref name="length"/>|indep_city=Vancouver}}
{{BCint
|km=0.0
|road=Kent Avenue N
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.5
|road=[[Marine Drive (Greater Vancouver)|Southwest Marine Drive]]
|notes={{rail-interchange|vancouver|canada|size=16}}&nbsp;[[Marine Drive station]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.4
|road=West 57th Avenue
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=2.2
|road=West 49th Avenue
|notes={{rail-interchange|vancouver|canada|size=16}}&nbsp;[[Langara–49th Avenue station]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=3.1
|road=West 41st Avenue
|notes={{rail-interchange|vancouver|canada|size=16}}&nbsp;[[Oakridge–41st Avenue station]]; near [[Oakridge Centre]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=4.0
|road=West 33rd Avenue
|notes=Access to [[Queen Elizabeth Park, British Columbia|Queen Elizabeth Park]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=4.9
|road=King Edward Avenue
|notes={{rail-interchange|vancouver|canada|size=16}}&nbsp;[[King Edward station]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=6.2
|road=West 12th Avenue
|notes=Near [[Vancouver City Hall]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=6.5
|road={{Jctname|province=BC|Hwy|7|name1=[[Broadway (Vancouver)|West Broadway]]|city1=Burnaby|city2=Maple Ridge}}
|notes={{rail-interchange|vancouver|canada|size=16}}&nbsp;[[Broadway–City Hall station]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=6.9
|road=West 6th Avenue, West 2nd Avenue
|notes=Grade separated; near {{rail-interchange|vancouver|canada|size=16}}&nbsp;[[Olympic Village station]]
}}
{{Jctbridge
|km=6.9
|km2=7.7
|bridge=[[Cambie Street Bridge]] over [[False Creek]]
}}
{{Jctint
|km=7.7
|km2=7.9
|mspan=3
|type=incomplete
|road=Pacific Boulevard
|notes=Northbound exit only; near [[BC Place]]
}}
{{Jctplace
|type=trans
|km=none
|place=[[One-way traffic|One-way]] transition – northbound follows '''Smithe Street''', southbound follows '''Nelson Street'''	
}}
{{BCint
|km=none
|type=incomplete
|road=Expo Boulevard
|notes=Northbound access only (at-grade)
}}
{{BCint
|km=8.1
|road=Cambie Street
|notes=Downtown section
}}
{{BCint
|km=8.5
|road={{Jctname|province=BC|Hwy|99|dir1=north|name1=Seymour Street|location1=[[Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal]]|city2=Whistler|extra=ferry}}
|notes=One-way, northeast-bound
}}
{{BCint
|type=hov
|km=8.6
|road=[[Granville Street]]
|notes=[[Granville Mall, Vancouver|Granville Mall]], transit only
}}
{{BCint
|km=8.7
|road={{Jctname|province=BC|Hwy|99|dir1=south|name1={{jct|province=BC|extra=ferry}} Howe Street|nolink1=yes|location1=[[Vancouver International Airport]]|location2=[[Tsawwassen ferry terminal]]|location3=[[U.S. border (Canada)|U.S. border]]|extra=airport}}
|notes=One-way, southwest bound
}}
{{BCint
|km=8.9
|road=[[Burrard Street]]
|notes=Smithe Street becomes Haro Street; Nelson Street continues northwest
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=hov,incomplete,trans}}

===Downtown section===
{{BCinttop|length_ref=<ref name="length"/>|indep_city=Vancouver}}
{{BCint
|km=0.0
|road=Pacific Boulevard
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.2
|road=Nelson Street
|notes=One-way, southeast bound; provides access to the [[Cambie Bridge]] and Cambie Street main section
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.4
|road=Smithe Street
|notes=One-way, northwest bound; provides access from the Cambie Bridge and Cambie Street main section
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.6
|road=[[Robson Street]]
|notes=
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.7
|road=[[Georgia Street|West Georgia Street]] to {{Jct|province=BC|Hwy|99|dir1=north|location1=[[Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal]]|city2=Whistler|noshield=yes}}
|notes=Former {{Jct|province=BC|Hwy|1A|Hwy|99A|dir1=east|dir2=south|noshield=yes}}
}}
{{BCint
|km=0.9
|road=Dunsmuir Street
|notes=Former {{Jct|province=BC|Hwy|1A|Hwy|99A|dir1=west|dir2=north|noshield=yes|nolink=yes}}; one-way, northwest bound
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.2
|road=[[Hastings Street (Vancouver)|West Hastings Street]]
|notes=Former {{Jct|province=BC|Hwy|7A|noshield=yes}}; near [[Victory Square, Vancouver|Victory Square]]
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.3
|road=Cordova Street
|notes=One-way, eastbound
}}
{{BCint
|km=1.4
|road=Water Street
|notes=One-way, westbound; near Gastown [[steam clock]]
}}
{{jctbtm}}

==See also==
*[[Cambie Street Grounds]] (Larwill Park)
*[[Cambie Seymour Hostel]]

==External links==
*[http://www.cambiestreet.com/ Cambie Street Directory]
*[http://vancouver.ca/Greaterdot/video/05-CambieBlvd.wmv GVTV Cambie Boulevard <small>(WMV)</small>]
*[http://www.cambievillage.com/ Cambie Village Business Association]

==References==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
<references/>

{{Streets in Vancouver}}

[[Category:Streets in Vancouver]]