Bridging the evolution of St.Vital

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This article was published 14/12/2015 (3830 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The St. Vital Bridge is turning 50.

The landmark south Winnipeg structure connects Dunkirk Drive in St. Vital to the south with Osborne Street in Fort Rouge to the north.

According to information provided by the City of Winnipeg, the bridge opened to traffic on Dec. 12, 1965, while the official opening followed two days later with a bus tour of the road complex, a ribbon cutting, a plaque unveiling and a reception at the Niakwa Motor Inn. Premier Duff Roblin had the honour of cutting the ribbon.

”It really did open up St. Vital and made it so much easier to get downtown,” said Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), who grew up in the area.

“Bear in mind that St. Vital was a rural municipality until the 1960s, so the bridge was very important in helping the area to grow and evolve.”

“At the time, the idea was approved in the belief it would take 85 per cent of the load off of the Elm Park Bridge,” he added.

Although the Osborne Street option was selected early on, three other possible sites were discussed as the project moved into the planning stages. This included an Oakenwald Avenue/Fermor Avenue option, which Mayes said now has the potential to be considered a site for a bike bridge.

Other names under consideration for the bridge included the Louis Riel Bridge, the Jack Blumberg Bridge and Expressway, the Leo Warde Bridge, the Ace Emmett Bridge and the John FM Kennedy Bridge.

“In history, there’s a bit of a pattern of development. The Flood of 1950 hit St. Vital very hard and when people began to rebuild this led to more expansion,” Mayes said.

The anniversary of the bridge was celebrated at a tea party event at the Canoe Club retirement community on Dunkirk Drive on Dec. 14.

A display created by the city’s archives department charting the history of the bridge will be on display at St. Vital Library later this month, Mayes said.

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