Vimy Memorial Bridge earns International Award of Distinction

The Vimy Memorial Bridge has received the prestigious Gustav Lindenthal Medal from the International Bridge Conference. The bridge was designed by Parsons for the City of Ottawa.

The medal was presented during the conference awards dinner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This annual award recognizes outstanding achievement in bridge engineering that is also esthetically and environmentally pleasing.

“This bridge is a stunning piece of architecture that spans the Rideau Canal system, a designated Historic Site in Canada, as well as a recognized World Heritage Site by UNESCO,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Whether arriving by land or water, it serves as a welcoming and impressive gateway to our city.”

The bridge, with its unique triple tubular arch formation, was designed and built to meet the stringent guidelines set by the City of Ottawa and the various approval agencies including the National Capital Commission, Parks Canada, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, First Nations (Algonquin of Ontario), Transport Canada and Transport Canada Marine.

“Parsons’ design is respectful of the environment, heritage and culture of Ottawa, said Todd Wager, Parsons Group President. “We’re proud that this beautiful bridge is contributing to the quality of life in Ottawa and becoming an important city landmark.”

The Vimy Memorial Bridge is made up of four general-purpose lanes, two auxiliary turning lanes, two dedicated transit lanes, two on-road cycling lanes and sidewalks in each direction. The bridge connects the communities of Riverside South and Barrhaven, significantly reducing the commute time between the two communities, as well as reducing traffic backlog on other traffic arteries.

The bridge was renamed from the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge to the Vimy Memorial Bridge in 2014, coinciding with the 100

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anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. It honours the historically significant battle of Vimy Ridge and will ensure that the sacrifices made by our Canadian troops during the War are not forgotten. ** Gustav Lindenthal ** (May 21, 1850 to July 31, 1935) was a civil engineer who designed the Hell Gate Bridge across New York City’s East River, which opened in March 1917. At that time, Hell Gate was the longest (977 feet [298 m]) steel arch in the world. Mr. Lindenthal’s work was greatly affected by his pursuit of perfection and his love of art. His structures not only serve the purpose they were designed for, but also are esthetically pleasing to the public eye.