Maryland Bridge

Maryland Bridge
Crosses Assiniboine River
Locale Winnipeg, Manitoba
Maintained by City of Winnipeg
History
Construction end 2005 (northbound side)
2006 (southbound side)

The Maryland Bridge is a bridge that crosses over the Assiniboine River in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It serves as a major transportation route for Winnipeg. The bridge connects Academy Road with Maryland Street and Sherbrook Street. The current structure is the third bridge to span this section of the river. All three bridges were called the Maryland Bridge. Nearby landmarks include Misericordia Health Centre, Cornish Library, and Shaare Zedek Synagogue.

Graffiti on the bridge

Architecture

Original bridge

The first bridge, which was made of steel truss,[1] was constructed in 1894. It was nicknamed the Boundary Bridge, because Maryland Street once served as Winnipeg's western boundary.[2]

Second bridge

After a Census of Traffic was conducted on the original bridge because of increased traffic and safety concerns, construction began on the second Maryland Bridge in 1920,[2] and was completed in 1921. It was a concrete arch structure that included a colored aggregate of red granite, crushed to pass through a .75 inches (19 mm) screen, exposed by scrubbing with steel brushes, and cleaned by several washings of muriatic acid and water.[3]

Winnipeg's only major bridge disaster occurred in 1937 when the 330-ton bridge counterweight fell on the deck of the second bridge.[4] A corner post shaped as a cairn has been preserved from the second Maryland Bridge and is displayed by the current bridge.[1] The bridge was closed for demolition upon the opening of the Twin Bridge's western span.

Current bridge

A view of the Assiniboine River looking southeast from the bridge

The current bridge, sometimes referred to as the Maryland Twin Bridge, consists of I-shaped AASHTO girders[5] and twin, five-span continuous precast prestressed concrete structures.[6] It was opened to traffic in two stages. The west structure on 8 November 1969 and the east structure on 5 August 1970. It was financed by the provincial government and constructed by the Metropolitan Corporation of Greater Winnipeg.[1]

Renovations to the northbound span occurred in 2005. In 2006, the southbound span was renovated.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Goldsborough, Gordon (28 December 2010). "Historic Sites of Manitoba: Maryland Twin Bridge". The Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Maryland Bridge". Pathways to Winnipeg History. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Engineering and contracting. Gillette Publishing Co. 1922. pp. 4–. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  4. ↑ Siamandas, George. "Winnipeg's Historic Bridges". timemachine.siamandas.com. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  5. ↑ Rizkalla, S. H.; Nanni, Antonio (2003). Field applications of FRP reinforcement: case studies. American Concrete Institute. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-87031-121-5. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "Field Demonstration Projects Manitoba". ISIS Canada Research Network. Retrieved 4 May 2011.

Coordinates: 49°52′41″N 97°9′40″W / 49.87806°N 97.16111°W / 49.87806; -97.16111

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