The 2,400-metre (7,900 ft) long, low timber trestle bridge opened on January 4, costing $16,000 to build, and was designed by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

On February 4, 1954, the current Granville Street Bridge opened to traffic after five years of planning and construction; its dedication ceremony was attended by 5,000 spectators after it had been delayed a week due to heavy snow.

[citation needed] Initially only four lanes were open to traffic until the completion of the loop ramps on the north side on July 16.

[10][11] Recent improvements to the bridge include increasing its earthquake resistance, and installing higher curbs and median barriers.

In December 2017, Vancouver City Council approved a plan to remove the "Granville Loops" - a pair of cloverleaf off-ramps connecting the bridge with Pacific Street - and open up the land to redevelopment.