At the time of the flood, St Patrick’s Bridge had been just three months away from opening as a new connection across the Bow River from East Village to St Patrick’s Island and Bridgeland.
The 182m-long bridge has been dubbed ‘the skipping stone bridge’ as it is seen as reminiscent of a stone skipping across the river. It has three pairs of steel arches – two above deck and one below. It was designed by Paris-based RFR and Halsall Associates of Calgary and built by Stantec and Graham Construction.
“This is a functional bridge first and foremost,” said RFR chief architect Jean Francois Blassel. “For thousands of Calgarians who commute into downtown Calgary every day, this crossing is a priority. Its simple design, wide deck, seating areas and inviting aesthetics make it both a path and a place – a highly functional pedestrian connector and a ‘balcony’ from which you can observe St Patrick’s Island, the city and the river.”
