Prince of Wales Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Prince of Wales Bridge is a rail bridge across the Ottawa River
joining Ottawa
, Ontario
to Gatineau
, Quebec
. It connected with the Canadian Pacific Railway
line just west of Lebreton Flats
, and crosses the south channel of the river to Lemieux Island
; it then continues across the northern channel into Quebec.
It is a multi-span Pratt truss bridge
, consisting of six equal spans over the south channel, and seven spans over the north channel; the second-last span, proceeding northward, is longer by a factor of about 1.7.
It was built by the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway in 1880, named for Albert Edward
, Prince of Wales
. At that time, it was one of the few crossings of the Ottawa River, and was one of the most valuable assets of the line, which was owned by the Quebec provincial government. The QMO&O continued to lose money, however, and it was purchased by the Canadian Pacific Railway
(CPR) in 1882, who connected it with their other recent purchase, the Canada Central Railway. This connection gave the CPR a solid rail route from their westward line being built from North Bay
to the ports of the St. Lawrence
. The Prince of Wales Bridge was joined by the CPR's Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge
in 1901, the second railway bridge to cross the river between Ottawa and Hull.
The Prince of Wales Bridge served well into the 20th century, but as rail transport diminished and more efficient routes became more common, the line was abandoned. The City of Ottawa purchased the CPR line, including the Prince of Wales Bridge, during the early 2000s for the O-Train project, however, the bridge has remained unused and the track east of the Bayview Station
to the bridge is overgrown. Interestingly, as the purchase of the bridge included the approaches on both sides, Ottawa now owns property in Quebec.
In 2005, the bridge was temporarily disconnected from the tracks just before its approach on the Ottawa side; this was done for a water line project being built along the Ottawa River Parkway
as part of the Lebreton Flats revitalization.
Despite opposition from City of Gatineau officials, transit advocates hope that the bridge can someday support a transit rail link to the Quebec side of the river, and connect Ottawa's O-Train
system with the numerous Gatineau commuters who cross the river daily. Modifications would need to be made to allow such, as there is only enough room for a single track on the bridge; it would need to be twinned or a passing loop
would need to be installed on Lemieux Island, or other similar upgrade(s) such as a four rail gauntlet track like the one still in use on the Bordeaux Railway Bridge
between Montreal
and Laval
, in addition to the passing loop, would need to be made.
The National Capital Commission
(NCC) is seeking public interest in using the bridge as a pedestrian and cycling bridge. It is unclear whether the NCC will add a side-structure to the bridge for this function, as was done with the Alexandra Bridge
, or whether the tracks would be removed for the pathway. The latter option is opposed by transit and cycling advocates alike.
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
joining Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
to Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. It connected with the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
line just west of Lebreton Flats
Lebreton Flats
LeBreton Flats is a neighbourhood in Ottawa, Canada. It lies to the west of Centretown neighbourhood, and to the north of Centretown West with "Nanny Goat Hill" as the dividing line...
, and crosses the south channel of the river to Lemieux Island
Lemieux Island
Lemieux Island, , is a small island in the middle of the Ottawa River, between Gatineau, Quebec, and Ottawa, Ontario. It is part of the city of Ottawa. The Prince of Wales Bridge goes over it, and a water filtration plant was built on the island....
; it then continues across the northern channel into Quebec.
It is a multi-span Pratt truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
, consisting of six equal spans over the south channel, and seven spans over the north channel; the second-last span, proceeding northward, is longer by a factor of about 1.7.
It was built by the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway in 1880, named for Albert Edward
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
. At that time, it was one of the few crossings of the Ottawa River, and was one of the most valuable assets of the line, which was owned by the Quebec provincial government. The QMO&O continued to lose money, however, and it was purchased by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
(CPR) in 1882, who connected it with their other recent purchase, the Canada Central Railway. This connection gave the CPR a solid rail route from their westward line being built from North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
to the ports of the St. Lawrence
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
. The Prince of Wales Bridge was joined by the CPR's Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge
Alexandra Bridge
The Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge spanning the Ottawa River between Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. It is known locally as both the "Alexandra Bridge" and the "Interprovincial Bridge".-History:...
in 1901, the second railway bridge to cross the river between Ottawa and Hull.
The Prince of Wales Bridge served well into the 20th century, but as rail transport diminished and more efficient routes became more common, the line was abandoned. The City of Ottawa purchased the CPR line, including the Prince of Wales Bridge, during the early 2000s for the O-Train project, however, the bridge has remained unused and the track east of the Bayview Station
Bayview Station (OC Transpo)
Bayview Station is a transitway and O-Train station in Ottawa, Ontario. The bus stop is at the eastern end of Scott Street when it becomes Wellington Street. The O-Train station, the northern terminus of the current line, is located on a stub-end track branching off from the railway line,...
to the bridge is overgrown. Interestingly, as the purchase of the bridge included the approaches on both sides, Ottawa now owns property in Quebec.
Future
Ottawa River Parkway
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. It is maintained by the National Capital Commission. The speed limit is , enforced by the Royal...
as part of the Lebreton Flats revitalization.
Despite opposition from City of Gatineau officials, transit advocates hope that the bridge can someday support a transit rail link to the Quebec side of the river, and connect Ottawa's O-Train
Ottawa O-Train
The O-Train is a light-rail transit service in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada operated by OC Transpo. The present line runs north-south on a railway line, from Bayview to Greenboro, a distance of approximately...
system with the numerous Gatineau commuters who cross the river daily. Modifications would need to be made to allow such, as there is only enough room for a single track on the bridge; it would need to be twinned or a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
would need to be installed on Lemieux Island, or other similar upgrade(s) such as a four rail gauntlet track like the one still in use on the Bordeaux Railway Bridge
Bordeaux Railway Bridge
The Bordeaux Railway Bridge is a railway bridge on the Canadian Pacific Railway line across the Rivière des Prairies between Ahuntsic-Cartierville, on Montreal Island, and Laval-des-Rapides, Laval, Quebec, Canada...
between Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Laval
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
, in addition to the passing loop, would need to be made.
The National Capital Commission
National Capital Commission
The National Capital Commission , is a Canadian Crown corporation that administers the federally owned lands and buildings in Canada's National Capital Region, including Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.The NCC was created in 1959, replacing the Federal District Commission , which had been...
(NCC) is seeking public interest in using the bridge as a pedestrian and cycling bridge. It is unclear whether the NCC will add a side-structure to the bridge for this function, as was done with the Alexandra Bridge
Alexandra Bridge
The Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge spanning the Ottawa River between Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. It is known locally as both the "Alexandra Bridge" and the "Interprovincial Bridge".-History:...
, or whether the tracks would be removed for the pathway. The latter option is opposed by transit and cycling advocates alike.
See also
- List of bridges in Ottawa
- List of crossings of the Ottawa River
- Quebec Gatineau Railway