The Laurier Avenue Bridge is a

bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...

Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

, Canada. It carries

Laurier Avenue Laurier Avenue (; Ottawa Road #48) is a central east west street running through Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Originally known as "Maria Street" (west of Waller) and "Theodore Street" (east of Waller), it was renamed in honour of Canadian Prime M ...

over the

Rideau Canal The Rideau Canal is a 202-kilometre long canal that links the Ottawa River at Ottawa with the Cataraqui River and Lake Ontario at Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Its 46 Lock (water navigation), locks raise boats from the Ottawa River 83 metres (272 ...

and also

Colonel By Drive Colonel By Drive () is an long scenic parkway in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Route description The parkway runs along the Rideau Canal from the end of Sussex Drive (Ottawa), Sussex Drive at Rideau Street (Ottawa), Rideau Street. It then continu ...

and Queen Elizabeth Driveway. The green steel arches makes the bridge one of the most recognizable in Ottawa. Many of the events of Winterlude are held around the bridge, and it is a common background to pictures of skaters on the canal. The southern entrance to the Department of National Defence Headquarters is located on the eastern portion of the bridge. The first bridge in the location was constructed in 1872. The current four lane bridge was originally built in 1900 and it was extended to the west in 1945. It was originally operated by the

National Capital Commission The National Capital Commission (NCC; , CCN) is the Crown corporation responsible for development, urban planning, and conservation in Canada's Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec), including administering most lands and build ...

, but in 1996 it and the Mackenzie King Bridge were handed over to the city as the NCC did not have enough money for needed maintenance. In 2001, the bridge was expanded and repaired. The top surface was expanded by 50% allowing wider lanes, dedicated bike paths, and much wider sidewalks. The area around the bridge was also beautified with landscaping and new stairs connecting to the bridge. Rideau Canal, Ottawa - panoramio (13).jpg

References

*"Laurier Bridge's widening complete." Jennifer Campbell. ''The Ottawa Citizen.'' Nov 21, 2003. pg. F.1.Fro {{coord, 45, 25, 21, N, 75, 41, 21, W, type:landmark_region:CA-ON, display=title Bridges in Ottawa Bridges completed in 1900 Road bridges in Ontario Bridges completed in 1872 1872 establishments in Ontario 1900 establishments in Ontario

See also

References