The Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge

by Paul Stumes

For a long period the Chaudiere Bridge was the only way to cross the river by foot or carriage. In the late 1860's the Quebec legislature instigated a study for a second bridge somewhere over Lac Dechenes. The idea was well received by the City of Ottawa with a proposal to build it closer to the centre of the City.

In 1890 a group of 27 local businessmen established the Interprovincial Bridge Company to promote the construction of a new bridge between Hull and Nepean Point in Ottawa. The grandiose proposal suggested that this bridge should have a central track for railway and roads for carriages and pedestrians on the two sides. The Company collected a starting capital of $30,000 for the project.

The proposal was submitted to the House of Commons and the Senate by the Cities of Ottawa and Hull. The members of the Commons expressed their concern about the expenses and the Senate questioned the idea of building a bridge so close to the Parliament Hill. Nevertheless, the proposal was accepted with a condition that the work must commence by 1892 and the bridge be completed by 1895.

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The ground was broken with great ceremony on both sides of the river on April 20, 1892. However, the construction of the bridge did not begin earnestly until 1898.

Between 1892 and 1898 many of the small railway companies amalgamated into national railway giants and these made their interest in the new bridge known with more than just words. The City of Ottawa offered to contribute $150.000 toward the construction, and this sum was later increased by a sum of $50,000.

After careful consideration, the H. J. Beemer Company of Montreal was given the contract as General Contractor of the project. The huge and complex steel structure was manufactured by the weII-known Dominion Bridge Company. The construction of the concrete piers started in early 1898. This work was made challenging by up to 50 ft thick layer of timber debris which accumulated on the river-bottom as the waste from the many sawmills around the area.

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The erection of steel superstructure commenced in October 1899. The five span trusses were together 1,848 feet long, with a centre cantilever span of 556 feet. At that time this was the fourth longest truss in the world. The vertical load posts at the long cantilever sections were an impressive 95 feet high. The railway tracks on the centre and roads for general traffic on the both sides made the bridge 62 feet wide. The construction of the bridge ccst $250,000, which at that time was an enormous sum.

The Interprovincial Bridge was assembled by October 1899 and a locomotive made a load testing run across On December 12. On February 1901 the bridge was open for carriages and pedestrians and by April trains were crossing either direction.

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In September 1901, when Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York visited Ottawa, the Interprovincial Bridge was renamed the Royal Alexandra Bridge in honour in honour of the reigning queen, Alexandra.

In 1902 the Canadian Pacific Railway took possession of the bridge, which remained in their hands until 1967 when it was taken over by the National Capital Commission. The N.CC removed the railway tracks and the centre and eastern lanes were opened to vehicular traffic. The western lane became reserved for pedestrian and bicycle usage. These lanes offer their users a picturesque view of the Parliamentary district and its environs.

Following the 1967 take-over, the piers and the steel superstructure were thoroughly examined by consulting engineers. The report of these experts indicated that the bridge was in excellent condition for its age and, that with some minor repairs and regular maintenance, could be safely used for many more years.

During the past centuries bridges everywhere have become more than just means of crossing waters. Aesthetically built bridges became proud, easily identifiable symbols of their cities and became national heritages, such as the Tower Bridge of London, the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco and Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Australia.

The Royal Alexandra Bridge unites two provinces and two cultures and as part of the NCC's Ceremonial Route leading from the National Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario to the Museum of Civilisation in Hull, Quebec, has attained greater cultural significance. Providing, as it does, an imposing view of the capital, the bridge's giant but graceful structure could, with time and a little more publicity in tourist brochures, become recognised as one of Ottawa's identifiable symbols.

Note: Some of the important information for this article was provided by Virendra Sahni, P.Eng., Manager, Structural and Transit Services, City of Ottawa.