Peace Bridge (Calgary)

Peace Bridge is a pedestrian bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, that accommodates both pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The bridge opened for use on March 24, 2012.

The bridge was built by The City of Calgary to connect the southern Bow River pathway and Downtown Calgary with the northern Bow River pathway and the community of Sunnyside. This connection was designed to accommodate the increasing number of people commuting to and from work and those utilizing Calgary's pathways. The bridge is reportedly used by 6000 people a day and has ranked among the top 10 architectural projects in 2012 and among the top 10 public spaces of 2012.

Design

The design follows strict requirements with no piers in the water (in an effort to minimize the ecological footprint) and restricted height (due to the vicinity of the City/Bow River Heliport).

The bridge has also been designed to:

  • Withstand Calgary's one-in-100 year flood cycle
  • Meet a minimum 75 year life span
  • Allow barrier free access for people of all mobility types
  • Provide comfort and security through lighting

The bridge is a departure from Calatrava's previous designs, which were typically asymmetric shapes anchored by high masts. Another atypical element is the color; while most of Calatrava's designs are white, the Peace Bridge features red and white as used in both the Flag of Canada and the Flag of Calgary.

Features
  • Helical steel structure with a glass roof (850-metric-tonne steel)
  • A width of 6.3 metres - double the width of other pedestrian bridges in the area
  • Segregated bicycle and pedestrian traffic
  • Lighting for night time use
Materials used
  • Steel for the arches
  • Reinforced concrete abutments & deck
Dimensions
  • Span length: Tube Girder 126 meters (413 ft)
  • Total length: Out to Out 130.6 meters (428 ft)
  • Total width: 8 meters (26 ft)
  • Total height: 5.85 meters (19.2 ft)
  • Inside width: 6.2 meters (20 ft) (3.7 meters (12 ft) for pedestrian and 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) for cycleway)

Cost

Funding for the Peace Bridge was provided by the city's capital budget. For the transportation department, targeted expenditures of capital are directed by the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP), which defines the priority and timing of major infrastructure construction projects. This program emphasizes pedestrian and cycling in high-density areas where these modes are more efficient at moving people, supporting land use and lessening environmental impacts. As of February 2012, the approximate costs were:

  • Construction: $17.995 million
  • Architectural and structural design, specialized engineering and quality assurance: $3.9 million
  • Project administration and contingency: $2.6 million

History

On September 8, 2008, Calgary City Council approved report LPT2008-49 which set aside $25 million for the Pedestrian Gateways project for two bridges across the Bow River: one west of Prince's Island Park and one at the west of St. George's Island. The decision directed Administration to design and build one bridge and develop a concept design for a second one.[]

Construction started in March 2010. A temporary structure was built immediately upstream from the bridge location and served as a place to assemble the bridge before moving it to its final position.

The tubular bridge was manufactured in Spain and shipped to Calgary. Assembly of the bridge pieces started in Fall 2010 and the bridge was moved across the Bow River in November 2011.

During routine weld inspection, it was discovered that some of the welds did not comply with quality standards. As a result, the city hired an independent inspection company to do a more thorough inspection of the welds completed in Spain. The added inspections, red flags about the steel work's esthetics, weld repairs, and issues with damaged concrete slabs all contributed to multiple delays in the opening of the bridge.

The bridge, originally supposed to be opened in the fall of 2010, opened to the public on March 24, 2012.

Criticism

$700,000 for replacement lights. Originals couldn't hold up to Calgary winters. Welding was sub-par and had to be redone. Replacement glass was approximately $130,000.

The Peace Bridge has drawn much criticism from the public, namely:

  • There are three other pedestrian bridges 275m west, 400m west, and 900m east from its location. However, the Peace Bridge is the only bridge to provide dedicated bicycle lanes crossing the Bow River.
  • The design was single-sourced.
  • The design was awarded to a foreign firm.
  • The bridge crosses to the north bank of the Bow River, but does not extend over a busy arterial road (Memorial Drive)
  • The final cost is projected to be over $30,400 per square metre.
    • Some journalists have asserted the Peace Bridge has a lower cost per area than similar length pedestrian/cycle bridges.
    • Other indicators place the Peace Bridge amongst the most expensive bridges in cost per metre length at roughly €114,000 (2010 equivalent); it was almost 10 times the $3 million cost of the Pedro e Inês bridge built in 2007 which spans 600 ft.

The bridge bears some similarity to the Hans Wilsdorf Bridge in Geneva, designed by the architectural firm of Brodbek-Roulet.

See also

  • List of bridges in Calgary
Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Gustavo Martins
1 April 2016
A must see in you architectural tour in Calgary. Although most Calgarians don't understand why. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, it will sure enrich your riverside walk. It is in need of some repairs.
Kirill Isaev
21 January 2015
There's a wonderful bench right on the downtown side that faces the bridge. A perfect spot for a date or for you and your favorite book. Well and Peace bridge is of course beautiful on its own.
Joshua Peters
10 September 2017
Beautiful pedestrian bridge. Highly recommend you give it a go while exploring the river valley through downtown.
Paula Madeira
26 March 2023
It has a nice design and nice looks. I just wish people were more civilized and stopped vandalizing the bridge
Natz Urena
20 February 2017
Iconic Calgary scene! Great spot for pictures if visiting Calgary every season has it's charm.
Grant Neufeld
7 April 2012
Best bridge for bikes and pedestrians - keeps them safely apart to avoid collisions. Plus no cars!
Load more comments
foursquare.com
8.6/10
47,228 people have been here
Map
471 Bow River Pathway, Calgary, AB T2N, Canada Get directions
Thu 11:00 AM–10:00 PM
Fri Noon–8:00 PM
Sat-Sun 10:00 AM–10:00 PM
Mon 11:00 AM–10:00 PM
Tue Noon–3:00 PM

Peace Bridge on Foursquare

Peace Bridge (Calgary) on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
ExecSuite Inc.

starting $134

Holiday Inn Express Calgary

starting $131

Sandman Hotel Calgary City Centre

starting $115

Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Calgary Downtown

starting $144

Nuvo Hotel Suites

starting $121

Regency Suites Hotel

starting $134

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Calgary Soldiers' Memorial

The Calgary Soldiers' Memorial is a war monument in Calgary, Alberta

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
St. Mary's Cathedral (Calgary)

St. Mary's Cathedral in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is a Roman Catholic

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Calgary Zoo

The Calgary Zoo is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, just east of

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Heritage Park Historical Village

Heritage Park Historical Village is a historical park located in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Hart House (Alberta)

The Hart House is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Baitun Nur

Baitun Nur (also spelled Baitunnur or Baitun Noor) (Arabic for 'House

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Canada Olympic Park

Canada Olympic Park (COP) (formerly known as Paskapoo Ski Hill) is

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Calaway Park

Calaway Park is Western Canada's largest outdoor family amusement

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Galata Bridge

The Galata Bridge (in Turkish Galata Köprüsü) is a bridge that sp

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
碓氷第三橋梁 (めがね橋)

碓氷第三橋梁 (めがね橋) is a tourist attraction, one of the Bridges in Sakamoto

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Rama IX Bridge

Rama IX Bridge is a bridge in Bangkok, Thailand over the Chao Phraya

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Suramadu Bridge

The Suramadu Bridge (Indonesian: Jembatan Suramadu), also known as the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Dom Luís I Bridge

The Dom Luís I (or Luiz I) Bridge (português. Ponte Luís I or Luiz I)

See all similar places