Peace Bridge

Earlier today I walked across this bridge on my way to a meeting. As the bridge cost almost 3 times as much to build as a «normal» bridge would have I assumed it would take me across the river in ¹⁄₃ the time. Unfortunately the trip across this fancier and much more expensive bridge didn’t seem to be any faster.
As a taxpayer I am relieved that millions of extra dollars were spent on this instead of being wasted on something frivolous like affordable housing or after school programs for at risk youth.

When plans for this bridge were announced I too jumped on the why-​spend-​so-​much-​on-​a-​bridge bandwagon like everyone else, but now I truly regret doubting this investment.
Public art and architecture are always things that will go unappreciated in society as a use of taxpayer money, and I think a lot of it has to do with people having no idea of how much it really improves a city in a holistic way that isn’t just about the numbers. Though it was expensive I think it was worth it.
The peace bridge is a really nice addition to downtown. We took our grad photos there, I’ve been on dates where we’ve walked on it and enjoyed it lovely view and interesting design, and I have seen it in countless great photos of people appreciating our city. I think the bridge really represents what Calgary is becoming; a modern, inclusive, and forward-​thinking city. I am glad the bridge came to be and I hope more projects like it will pop up soon.

This damned bridge. It was such a controversy when it was first being built. Now, I see it in more photos representing the city than anything else I think. It’s become iconic.
After my year away, I’ve come back with a new appreciation for bridges and architecture and things we create that give people pause. We could have just built any old bridge, but we didn’t. We had this one built designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. (Tapas party on the bridge anyone?)
The bridge itself is also pretty cool. Did you know it has absolutely no piers in the water? It doesn’t need any beans, arches, cables or lower supports at all to support itself (other than the embankments). It’s called the Peace Bridge because it links Peace Park and Memorial Drive and commemorates soldiers killed in WWI
I must admit, one of my most favourite scenes is walking down by the river pathways as the sun is going down (and especially after) and seeing the reflections of the bridge all lit up off the water.
PS… The bridge has a twin in Geneva called the Hans Wilsdorf Bridge. I crossed it last April thinking, «Hmmm… this reminds me a lot of home.» Different architects, but look it up, you’ll see the similarities.

I love this bridge despite all commentary as to the cost, its just so architecturally stunning. I agree with others, the city could have done a better job on the cost management and there are lots of other pretty bridges in the city but the red and chinese finger trap look of it just resonate with me. I like that it does not line up with a cross walk on Memorial Dr because walking along the river to get to 14^th or east to a cross walk is a short distance and a nice walk. Relax, stroll and enjoy your surroundings folks! The journey is part of the experience not just getting from place to place. I especially like the center lane for wheeled transportation and the raised side walks for seperation. Of course this doesn’t stop people from strolling down the middle, heads up for the cyclists guys and cyclists, share the space, its not all about you and your speedy commute. I often see buskers or people stopping to talk a photo or even just to stop and admire the view. We really are lucky to have such a beautiful river through our city, the trees and the pathways and of course the urban structures on each bank. A really vibrant river side community on both sides. The only reason I’m holding back a star is because of the lights on the bridge. The one’s embedded in the concrete seem cracked/​broken more often than not and the bulbs along the top seem to need frequent changing. Looks shoddy with one or two burnt out. Seems like a design flaw but only a star not a crushing disappointment.

I was hesitant. The shear cost of this baby alone is enough to make your hair stand up. How much? $ 30,400 per square metre. $ 30,400 per square metre for a bridge that doesn’t even get you across the road. How do you cross the road? You walk the very short distances to one of the other pedestrian bridges that actually have the additional infrastructure to cross Memorial drive. Smart.
It’s artistic. It’s called the peace bridge because it represents peace. Not a specific circumstance, just peace in general. Deep. Well, that’s pretty hard to argue with. You don’t like the peace bridge? Why do you hate peace?! Deep. It’s red to represent the colour of Calgary… which is red. Deep. Deep like a 3^rd grade art project.
I deal with it by crossing it every day. At the end of my life time I should feel like I got my money’s worth out of this thing and in a way, I already feel like I have…
What’s interesting about the peace bridge is the interest it creates. Each day I cycle through it’s finger trap-​like lines, I see people stopped, looking out at the river, looking up at the bridge. People taking pictures of their friends standing along a railing. People watching a man with a guitar, the sounds echoing clearly through it’s tunnelled construction. Rows of photographers lined up at night, trying to uncover new way and angles to see it from. Couples holding in hands and falling in love to the soft wash sound of the river. I see people being inspired and intrigued and I see people connecting with their city and becoming a part of it. That’s something you can’t put a price on.
Oh, wait. Yes you can. It was $ 25,000,000.00.
Thanks for the 100^th review, Peace Bridge. You know I love you.

I like it. I like it alot. You’ll never get consensus around aesthetics but I think it looks cool — chinese finger trap jokes and all.
I’m okay with the cost as well. Nice, landmark architecture costs money and I like that it’s not another bland, concrete bridge with no character at all.
I will agree with the reviewer who mentioned that there is no crosswalk across Memorial Drive from the bridge — seems odd. Would have been good to see a ped bridge over the road there even.
Overall, it’s a nice bridge with some character and I’d like to see more iconic construction in Calgary.

Why did Calgary build an exorbitantly expensive bridge? To get to the other side of course!
The subject of Mayor Nenshi’s most famous tweet, this bridge gets an A+ for generating comedy around the city of Calgary. I mean, for starters it’s named the «Peace» bridge, when just bringing it up around anyone who cares about politics is enough to send them into a mini-​aneurysm. Ahhh, peace indeed!
So let’s review this bridge, shall we?
First things first, it’s a bridge. Yup. Fully functional. You can literally walk from one side to the other on this bridge. It’s got good bridge-​like characteristics like structural soundness, a flat platform to walk on and a ⁵⁄₅ for «not being submerged in the river». That’s a good quality in a bridge, so I’m going to award it 5 stars. Good work, bridge!
Secondly, this bridge is red. Oooh, I don’t know about that one. Red totally clashes with the surrounding nature. It looks out of place. I mean, yeah, it’s sort of cool that it’s not gray or white or something, but red? Well that just seems a bit overambitious to me. So 3.5 stars for color.
Thirdly — no cross walk in front of the bridge? Oh Calgary, you’re so crazy. Now people are going to get mercilessly run over on their way to try and cross the peace bridge. Maybe we should call it the «Rest in Peace» bridge or the «Sorry you got hit by a car» bridge. We can spend millions going across the river, but can’t spare a few strokes of paint for a crosswalk? Ooooookay. One star for civil planning.
So the bridge scores points for comedy and functionality; in the end the bridge is a great way to walk across the river without getting your feet wet. I plan to ride my bike back and forth across it repeatedly until I feel like it was worth the exorbitant amount of money we paid for it.

Come on Unilocal Calgary, are you seriously going to let me have the FTR in the «chinese finger trap» bridge?! Laaaazzzzzzzyyyyy
Despite all the controversies surrounding this bridge, I’m going to say this. I like it. Walking through makes me feel like I’m in a spaceship and I’m about to head over to the captain’s cabin to make my briefing on the Borg’s that I had to vaporize. Except it’s a shitty spaceship because lets face it, in the future people don’t walk, EVER.
It’s well lit at night so the second time I walked through to get back to the Kensington area it was filled with gleeful photographers, gross couples dancing through their fornication rituals, and a dozen Zoey Deschanel’s clopping through to make their way to either Oolong or Higher Ground. I have a friend that lives around the area and he loves this bridge too. Mind you, it seems like it’s a little retarded for me that a cross walk doesn’t exist right beside this bridge but whats wrong with a little jay walking here and there?
Will I be coming back here in the future? Yes… why the hell not?
Underdog Challenge ¹³⁄₃₀