Third Crossing of the Cataraqui River and Rideau Canal
Kingston, Ontario
The Rideau Canal is an important part of Canada's founding story. It was built in the early 19th century to connect Lake Ontario to the Ottawa River at Ottawa. Its purpose was to secure Canada's communications between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal against attack by the United States. The canal is recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. It accesses Lake Ontario via the Cataraqui River, an inlet of the lake that is almost exactly 1000m wide at the location of the crossing. Bordering the site is an intricate combination of suburban development, pristine wetlands and wildlife preserves and First Nation (Native American) burial grounds
The Third Crossing is a low multispan viaduct that rises only to clear the Rideau Canal. A tied arch of 100m span crosses and marks the canal. The remaining spans are steel box girders carried on V-shaped piers that preserve views through the bridge and minimize the number of foundations required in the river. The entire viaduct is gently and continuously curved in both the horizontal and vertical planes, giving the bridge a slowly undulating alignment that merges into the landscape of the Cataraqui River.
The concept was warmly accepted by the community and the First nation tribes.
"We cannot tell you how to build this bridge. All that we ask is that, when it is completed, it is deserving of being blessed."