Vimy Memorial Bridge

Last updated
Vimy Memorial Bridge
Coordinates 45°16′12″N75°42′09″W / 45.26991°N 75.70245°W / 45.26991; -75.70245
Carriesvehicles (2x3 lanes)
buses (2x1 lane)
bicycles (2x1 lane)
Crosses Rideau River, Rideau Canal
Localesouthern Ottawa
Other name(s)Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge
Website ottawa.ca/en/city_hall/planningprojectsreports/construction/projects/strandherd_bridge/index.html
Preceded by Manotick
Followed by Hunt Club Road
Characteristics
Designtriangular-truss arches, with two suspended decks
MaterialSteel
Total length143 metres (469 ft)
History
Construction cost$50 million CAD
Opened12 July 2014
Statistics
Tollfree
Location
Vimy Memorial Bridge

The Vimy Memorial Bridge (previously the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge [1] ) is a bridge in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Completed in 2014, it crosses the Rideau River, connecting Strandherd Drive in Barrhaven and Earl Armstrong Road in Riverside South. The bridge was the 2015 winner of the Gustav Lindenthal Medal. [2] It is named after the Battle of Vimy Ridge, as suggested by two Royal Canadian Legions in Ottawa. [1]

Contents

Vimy Memorial Bridge Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge, July 2014.jpg
Vimy Memorial Bridge

History

The idea for a bridge in this location was first brought up in 1993 as a road bridge. The location was later revisited as the location for a light rail crossing for the O-Train, but that extension plan was cancelled. In 2010, the city, provincial, and national governments invested equal amounts totalling $48 million in building the bridge. [3] The original contractor hired, ConCreate USL, went into receivership when the project was about 60% complete and the bonding company, GCNA hired a new contractor, formed by former employees of ConCreate, now known as Horseshoe Hill Construction, to complete its bonded work. [4] The project was initially expected to be completed in 2012. [5] However, due to the contractor going bankrupt and the city's bonding company refusing to accelerate work, the completion date was delayed. The bridge was then due to be open in September 2014 [6] but opened earlier than expected, on 12 July 2014. [7]

Features

The bridge has three vehicle lanes, a dedicated bus lane, and a bike lane in each direction. Pedestrian walkways are located on the outside of the bridge on both the north and south side.

Public transit

The bridge's exclusive bus lanes are a part of the Ottawa bus rapid transit system known as the Transitway and are utilized by OC Transpo routes 74 and 99. OC Transpo Route 74 is a high frequency rapid transit route that runs from Tunney's Pasture to Riverview station via Baseline station at Algonquin College and Barrhaven. The route is shared with OC Transpo Route 75 from Tunney's Pasture to Fallowfield Station. From there route 75 continues on the Transitway to Barrhaven Centre station or Cambrian (at Greenbank). Route 74 leaves the Transitway temporarily to drive south on Woodroffe Ave until it reaches Nepean Woods station, from which it crosses the Vimy Memorial Bridge on the way to Riverview station. OC Transpo Route 99 operates in both directions from Hurdman station to Barrhaven Centre station via the southeastern Transitway, serves Riverside South via Spratt Road and connects to the O-Train Line 2 at Greenboro station, which serves as its northeastern terminus in off-peak hours. During peak hours the route 99 continues onto Hurdman station through Billings Bridge station. The new bridge's exclusive bus lanes have improved transit service in Barrhaven and Riverside South.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">OC Transpo</span> Public transit service in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lycée Claudel station</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrhaven</span> Community in Ontario, Canada

Barrhaven is a suburb of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located about 17 km (11 mi) southwest of the city's downtown core. Prior to amalgamation with Ottawa in 2001, Barrhaven was part of the City of Nepean. Its population as of the Canada 2021 Census was 103,234.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurdman station</span> Mass transit station in Ottawa, Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baseline station</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kichi Zibi Mikan</span> Four-lane parkway in Ottawa, Canada

The Kichi Zībī Mīkan, formerly the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, and previously the Ottawa River Parkway, is a four-lane scenic parkway along the Ottawa River in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs from Carling Avenue near Connaught Avenue, to Booth Street at the Canadian War Museum and National Holocaust Monument. It is maintained by the National Capital Commission. The speed limit is 60 km/h (37 mph). Bicycles are allowed on the road and on a parallel recreational path along the parkway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westboro station</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunney's Pasture station</span> Transit station in Ottawa, Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Keys station</span> Railway station in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strandherd station</span>

Strandherd Station is a transit station in Ottawa, Ontario. It opened on January 2, 2007 and contains a park and ride facility with over 300 parking spaces available. It is located northeast of the intersection of Strandherd Drive and the access to the Riocan Marketplace shopping area, where Barrhaven Centre Station and Marketplace Station opened in mid-2012. This is part of OC Transpo's plans to extend its southwest transitway to its suburb areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marketplace station</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fallowfield station (Ontario)</span> Bus and train station in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverview station</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nepean Woods station</span>

Nepean Woods station is located in the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada suburb of Barrhaven, and is on the Southwest Transitway which is served by OC Transpo buses. Located near the intersection of Woodroffe Avenue and Strandherd Drive in southern Nepean, it was the westerly terminus of most trips of rapid-transit route 74, formerly numbered route 94. It is also the site of a park and ride lot for residents of Barrhaven, which opened on 24 February 2014.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">O-Train</span> Rapid transit system in Ottawa, Ontario

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambrian station</span>

Cambrian station is a bus stop on Ottawa, Ontario's transitway served by OC Transpo buses. It is located on the auxiliary road servicing the Minto Recreation Complex in Barrhaven, Ontario. It is the southernmost point of the main transitway system. Service is provided by route 75 to Tunney's Pasture station every 15 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on evenings and weekends.

Limebank is an under construction terminal station on the Trillium Line in Ottawa, Ontario. When constructed, it will be the southern terminus of the Stage 2 O-Train expansion and is scheduled for completion in 2024. The station will be elevated with two side platforms and is located southwest of the intersection of Limebank and Earl Armstrong roads. OC Transpo Rapid bus routes 74 and 99 will connect to this station once revenue service begins in 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 "Vimy Memorial Bridge name approved at Ottawa committee". CBC News. 1 Oct 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. "Vimy Memorial Bridge earns International Award of Distinction". City of Ottawa. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  3. Rwema, Eddie. "Strandherd-Armstrong bridge on track: Coun. Desroches". Ottawa South EMC. Metroland Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  4. "Strandherd-Armstrong bridge work to resume". CBC News. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  5. "Strandherd bridge moved into place this weekend". Ottawa Sun , July 13, 2013.
  6. Hempstead, Doug. "July opening for Strandherd-Armstrong bridge ... maybe". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  7. "Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge opens, significantly improving connectivity for Riverside South and Barrhaven residents". City of Ottawa. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.