Photo: Alexandra Bridge Dusk Ottawa River Ontario Canada

The Alexandra Bridge spans the Ottawa River and is an Interprovincial Bridge; from Ottawa Ontario on one side to Gatineau Quebec on the other side. It is a steel truss cantilever bridge, which means it's supported on one end only.

Construction began on the bridge in 1898 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and during the winter of 1899-1900, builders worked round the clock to move steel beams into position to act as the foundations of the bridge. Naturally, the harsh Ontario winter slowed construction considerably, and it wasn't until September 1900 that the four beams were secured in place. The centre span of the bridge was completed on October 7th and the first train made its way across the bridge on December 12 1900. It wasn't until February 18, 1901 that the bridge was officially inaugurated as an inter-provincial bridge. The name was changed to 'Royal Alexandra Bridge' later that year.

In Ottawa the brige crosses from near Parliament Hill at Nepean Point and it wasn't until the 1950s that it was open to both automobile and pedestrian traffic. It is now a busy crossing point for everyone in that area, and is used in commutes for daily traffic as well. ... continue below the picture...

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At each end of the bridge are two famous Canadian museums: in Gatineau there is the Canadian Museum of Civilization, while in Ottawa there is the National Art Gallery. Both of which are busy tourist attractions in Canada, and having a bridge between them makes it easy for tourists to visit both in the same day.

Alexandra Bridge at dusk spanning the Ottawa River from the City of Ottawa in Ontario to Gatineau in Quebec, Canada.