Cummings Bridge

Last updated
Cummings Bridge
RideauRV.JPG
Coordinates 45°26′00″N75°40′16″W / 45.433199°N 75.6712°W / 45.433199; -75.6712 Coordinates: 45°26′00″N75°40′16″W / 45.433199°N 75.6712°W / 45.433199; -75.6712
Carries4-lane road, sidewalks, bicycle lane
Crosses Rideau River
Locale Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Named for Charles Cummings
Characteristics
MaterialReinforced concrete
Total length213 m (699 ft) [1]
Width18.21 m (59.7 ft) [1]
History
Construction start1921
Rebuilt1996
Location
Cummings Bridge

The Cummings Bridge in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, crosses the Rideau River, connecting Rideau Street to Montreal Road in Vanier. It is a multi-span open spandrel arch bridge, constructed in 1921 and renovated in 1996. [1]

History

The area east of the Cummings Bridge, later named Vanier was first linked to the Sandy Hill area of Ottawa with a wooden bridge erected in 1835, which went over Cummings Island in the Rideau River. The Cummings family settled the island, had a store there, and the island and bridge there became associated with the Cummings name. [2] In 1891, the old wooden bridge was replaced by a steel bridge, which the city wanted to name Bingham's Bridge, after Ottawa mayor Samuel Bingham, but this name never caught on. [3]

Previous Cummings Bridge in 1896 Cummings Bridge Ottawa 1896.jpg
Previous Cummings Bridge in 1896

The current bridge was constructed in 1921, some 12 metres (39 ft) downstream from the steel bridge, bypassing Cummings Island. [3]

Charles Cummings had a son, Robert Cummings who became Reeve of Gloucester Township and Warden of Carleton County, Ontario. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Restoring the Cummings Bridge". www.canadianconsultingengineer.com. Canadian Consulting Engineer. January 1, 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  2. Haig 1975, pp. 160.
  3. 1 2 Deachman, Bruce (September 20, 2015). "Cummings Island: A former commercial hub now sits empty". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  4. Haig 1975, pp. 77.
Bibliography