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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". The bridge was constructed between 1898 and 1900 . Four barges were built to move steel beams into position. During the winter (1899–1900) workmen toiled day and night chopping channels to keep the ice clear for the barges to pass so that work could continue on the superstructure. Considerable construction delays were caused by the severe winter conditions. By September 1900 the four fixed support spans were complete. The Canadian Society Of Civil Engineers held its annual meeting in Ottawa in order that its members might tour the bridge works and see the preparations being made for placing the centre span. The bridge's main cantilever centre span was, at the time of construction, the longest in Canada and the fourth longest in the world. Both records are now held by the Quebec Bridge . The centre span was successfully put in place on October 7, and a locomotive made a trial run on December 12, 1900. On February 18, 1901 the bridge was officially inaugurated as the Interprovincial Bridge as it had been built by the Ottawa Interprovincial Bridge Company. The name was changed in September 1901 to the "Royal Alexandra Bridge" in honour of the then Queen during the visit of the Duke of Cornwall, later King George V . The Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge crosses the Ottawa River just east of Parliament Hill at Nepean Point in Ottawa. The bridge was designed primarily to carry Railway trains and an electric Trolley . There was also a lane for Carriage traffic. In the late 1950s the bridge was converted to carry vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The bridge now provides an important commuter link between the centres of Ottawa and Gatineau. The roadways for vehicles are located on the centre and east decks. The west deck provides a panorama of the Ottawa- Gatineau skyline, the Ottawa River and Parliament Buildings. That deck is used by Rollerblader s, Cyclist s, and Pedestrian s, and is on the official route of the Trans Canada Trail . SPECIFICATIONS
See also: List Of Bridges |
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