Old Provencher Bridge Bridge
Esplanade Louis RielThe new pedestrian bridge linking The Forks and downtown Winnipeg to Saint-Boniface opened in late 2003 and a committee of city hall aldermen recommended the walkway be named after Manitoba Metis leader, Louis Riel (1844-1885).
An "esplanade" is a long stretch for walking or driving along a waterfront. Esplanade Riel will feature a restaurant on the center plaza and final landscaping will be finished at a future date.
Located near the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, the structure provides a crossing over the Red River. A French Canadian ( Manitoba) architectural firm provided the design from the project's conception to completion. The bridge is a 5-metre wide and 250-metre long "people path."
Cable-stayed from a single, transversely inclined pylon rising fifty-seven metres above the Red River, the bridge design reflects the lightweight nature of its pedestrian traffic, while the spire signifies a place of meeting in the middle of the river. The cables connecting from the spire base to the spire are reminiscent of the ribs of an outdoor cathedral. The spire base will feature a large, multipurpose gathering plaza and commercial kiosks.
Esplanade Riel is expected to strengthen the connection between The Forks and the Saint-Boniface French Quarter, becoming a symbolic gateway between two of Winnipeg's most historic communities and promoting commerce and tourism.
The city of Winnipeg did not erect this bridge without creating controversy. They went way over budget by a few million dollars. The one million dollar toilet in the centre of the bridge was not well received by the public! They then put out tenders for entrepreneurs who may be interested in opening a restaurant on the bridge. However a local burger joint ended up with the contract to build a restaurant. The mayor of our fair city played politics with this one. Sam Katz had a vested interest in the Salisbury restaurant chain of Manitoba. However that was slide down the proverbial pipe without a leak? So what's new in the coporate world of big business!
The bitching and moaning seems to have stopped as it always does! The salisbury house people had said thet they would not put the the Little Red Roof logo on the bridge, however as the above photo shows the Little Red Roof is now a permanent fixture on what was once a beautiful bridge. Did I mention Berton Cummings part owner of Salibury house always wanted Winnipeg to pay homage to his career! In the last many years Winnipeg has granted his wish time and time again. I'm sure when Berton comes to visit the Salisbury Bridge to entertain us on his piano that is also a fixture in the restaurant entertainment centre. We can all sing the new Winnipeg anthem "The Bridge with the Little Red Roof".
