Queen Elizabeth Driveway
Encyclopedia
Queen Elizabeth Driveway is a scenic parkway
in Ottawa
, Canada
that runs along the western edge of the Rideau Canal
. It runs from Laurier Avenue
in the north to Dow's Lake
where it turns into Prince of Wales Drive
. It is administered and owned by the National Capital Commission
(NCC).
The driveway was one of the first projects of the NCC, known (before 1927) as the Ottawa Improvement Agency. The two-lane road replaced the industrial buildings and private boathouses that had stood along the canal. The driveway was lined with trees and gardens, and a series of large houses were built along it. It was originally known as the Government Driveway but was soon renamed the Rideau Canal Driveway. Several decades later it was given its current name. The speed limit for most of its length is 60 km/h (37 mph).
In the 1950s a similar route was created on the eastern edge of the canal, the Colonel By Drive
.
Along the entire length of the Driveway is a multi-use trail as part of the Capital Pathway
system.
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
in 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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that runs along the western edge of the Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
. It runs from Laurier Avenue
Laurier Avenue (Ottawa)
Laurier Avenue is a central east west street running through Ottawa, Canada. Originally known as "Maria Street" and "Theodore Street" , it was renamed in honour of Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier...
in the north to Dow's Lake
Dow's Lake
Dow's Lake in Ottawa, Canada is a small man-made lake on the Rideau Canal, situated two kilometres north of Hog's Back Falls in the middle of Ottawa. It is at the south end of Preston Street, just south of Carling Avenue, and just to the west of Bronson Avenue...
where it turns into Prince of Wales Drive
Prince of Wales Drive (Ottawa)
Prince of Wales Drive is a road serving Ottawa, Ontario, named after the eponymous road in Battersea, London, U.K. The northern section is a low-speed street running along the west bank of the Rideau River, while southern portions of the road were formerly Highway 16 .Prince of Wales Drive is the...
. It is administered and owned by 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).
The driveway was one of the first projects of the NCC, known (before 1927) as the Ottawa Improvement Agency. The two-lane road replaced the industrial buildings and private boathouses that had stood along the canal. The driveway was lined with trees and gardens, and a series of large houses were built along it. It was originally known as the Government Driveway but was soon renamed the Rideau Canal Driveway. Several decades later it was given its current name. The speed limit for most of its length is 60 km/h (37 mph).
In the 1950s a similar route was created on the eastern edge of the canal, the Colonel By Drive
Colonel By Drive
Colonel By Drive is an long scenic parkway in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs along the Rideau Canal from the end of Sussex Drive at Rideau Street. It then continues south and west to Hog's Back Road, winding through several residential areas and going past Dow's Lake and Carleton University...
.
Along the entire length of the Driveway is a multi-use trail as part of the Capital Pathway
Capital Pathway
The Capital Pathway, also known informally as the The Bike Path, is a recreational pathway interlinking many parks, waterways and sites in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec...
system.