PROJECT: Prince of Wales Bridge

LOCATION: Ottawa, Ontario

ROLE: Bridge Architect

YEAR: 2017

Ottawa Rail Bridge (ORB) advocates to use the Prince of Wales Bridge to create a community space that celebrates recreational use and becomes a sustainable transportation link. The bridge which links Ottawa and Gatineau, is currently closed to the public. ORB is advocating for interim use of the bridge through a combination of basic maintenance and tactical urbanism. APEXX teamed up with the ORB to help design this new vision. Our team designed a multi-phase program for the bridge which allows pedestrians and cyclists to use the bridge before it is converted back to a rail bridge. Phase 1 includes the resurfacing of the tracks and the implementation of community gardens. Phase 2 returns the bridge to a Light Rail system and moves the pedestrians and cyclists on the exterior of the bridge. Phase 3 creates a public park in between the North and South connections on Lemieux Island.