Corktown Footbridge

About

The Corktown Footbridge (French: Passerelle Corktown) is a pedestrian footbridge over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The 70-metre (230 ft) bridge is located about 400 m (1,300 ft) south of the Laurier Avenue Bridge and connects the University of Ottawa campus with the Golden Triangle neighbourhood. It was opened on 21 September 2006.

The bridge also connects the eastern and western sides of the Rideau Canal Pathway and has links to Colonel By Drive on its eastern side and to Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Somerset Street on its western side. The bridge's name refers to a series of shanties built along the "Deep Cut" section of the Rideau Canal during its construction. Many of the labourers living in Corktown came from County Cork in Ireland, giving it its name.

The idea of a bridge between the University of Ottawa and the Golden Triangle dates back to the 1980s. It went through many years of review and feasibility studies with no success. The university and its students were strong supporters of the concept, saying that the bridge would provide students with easier access to retail on Elgin Street and would connect the Golden Triangle to uOttawa station.

City councillors...