Ottawa - Vimy Memorial Bridge

 

 

Location:  City of Ottawa     N 45.26990   W -75.70287

Across the Rideau River, connecting Strandherd Road in Barrhaven and Earl Armstrong Road in Riverside South.

 

 

This beautiful bridge is in commemoration of the 100th anniversary the start of the First World War and of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which took place in April 1917.  The naming of the bridge was proposed by local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.  The $50 million dollar bridge was completed ahead of scheduled and opened to the public in July 2014.  It crosses a span of 143 metres in length across the Rideau River and Canal.  It joins the Ottawa communities of Barrhaven and Riverside South, which are located a short distance south of the city centre.  The bridge was the 2015 winner of the Gustav Lindenthal Medal for bridge engineering.  Although the bridge itself is certainly a marvel of modern engineering and provides a much needed link for the local communities, let us not forget that the Battle of Vimy Ridge is perhaps the most iconic and well remembered battle in Canadian history.  The sacrifices and triumphs of that day will remain forever in our hearts and memories.  Lest We Forget.

 

Thank you to Louise Bellec for the great photos. 

Marker text:

VIMY MEMORIAL BRIDGE

Opened July 12, 2014

Vimy Memorial Bridge commemorates the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World

War in 1914 and the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a key battle of the Great War, which took place 

in northern France in April 1917.

Canadian Regiments from coast to coast fought together and triumphed at Vimy Ridge,

helping to create a stronger sense of Canadian identity and community.

Of the 100,000 Canadians who fought valiantly at Vimy Ridge, 3,598 died

and approximately 7,400 were injured.

Local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion proposed that this bridge be named

to honour the many heroes of Vimy Ridge.

The Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa provided

funding for the bridge.