Cummings Bridge

Cummings Bridge
Coordinates	45.433199°N 75.6712°W / 45.433199; -75.6712
Carries	4-lane road, sidewalks, bicycle lane
Crosses	Rideau River
Locale	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Named for	Charles Cummings
Characteristics
Material	Reinforced concrete
Total length	213 m (699 ft)
Width	18.21 m (59.7 ft)
History
Construction start	1921
Rebuilt	1996
Location

The Cummings Bridge in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, crosses the Rideau River, connecting Rideau Street to Montreal Road in Vanier. It is a multi-span open spandrel arch bridge, constructed in 1921 and renovated in 1996.

History

The area east of the Cummings Bridge, later named Vanier was first linked to the Sandy Hill area of Ottawa with a wooden bridge erected in 1835, which went over Cummings Island in the Rideau River. The Cummings family settled the island, had a store there, and the island and bridge there became associated with the Cummings name. In 1891, the old wooden bridge was replaced by a steel bridge, which the city wanted to name Bingham's Bridge, after Ottawa mayor Samuel Bingham, but this name never caught on.

Previous Cummings Bridge in 1896

The current bridge was constructed in 1921, some 12 metres (39 ft) downstream from the steel bridge, bypassing Cummings Island.

Charles Cummings had a son, Robert Cummings who became Reeve of Gloucester Township and Warden of Carleton County, Ontario.

References

Bibliography

• Haig, Robert (1975), Ottawa: City of the Big Ears, Ottawa: Haig and Haig Publishing Co.