▁to ll ▁bridge ▁to ▁be ▁completed ▁within ▁three ▁years . ▁By ▁ 1 9 6 5 , ▁he ▁was ▁prom oting ▁a ▁tunnel . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 1 , ▁Don ▁Jam ies on , ▁Minister ▁of ▁Transport ▁announced ▁a ▁to ll - free ▁bridge , ▁but ▁the ▁proposed ▁ram ps ▁directly ▁accessing ▁brid ges ▁to ▁L ulu ▁Island ▁would ▁not ▁be ▁built . ▁Richmond ▁residents ▁were ▁angry . ▁ ▁On ▁September ▁ 6 , ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁Pierre ▁Tru de au ▁announced ▁that ▁the ▁new ▁bridge ▁over ▁the ▁north ▁arm ▁of ▁the ▁F ras er ▁River ▁would ▁be ▁named ▁after ▁Arthur ▁La ing , ▁who ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁House ▁of ▁Commons ▁of ▁Canada ▁from ▁V ancouver . ▁ ▁Comple tion ▁and ▁controvers y ▁Although ▁the ▁bridge ▁opened ▁to ▁traffic ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 7 5 , ▁Otto ▁Lang , ▁Minister ▁of ▁Transport , ▁performed ▁the ▁official ▁opening ▁of ▁the ▁$ 2 3 m ▁crossing ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁On ▁hand ▁were ▁Premier ▁Bill ▁Ben nett , ▁Gil ▁Bla ir , ▁mayor ▁of ▁Richmond , ▁Art ▁Phill ips , ▁mayor ▁of ▁V ancouver , ▁and ▁wid ow ▁Ger ald ine ▁La ing , ▁who ▁un ve iled ▁a ▁pla que . ▁▁ ▁Connect ing ▁Grant ▁Mc Con ach ie ▁Way ▁with ▁SW ▁Marine ▁Drive , ▁the ▁bridge ▁is ▁ ▁long ▁and ▁ ▁wide , ▁with ▁a ▁ ▁main ▁span ▁standing ▁ ▁above ▁the ▁river . ▁The ▁main ▁span ▁compr ises ▁ha unch ed