The Point Ellice Bridge, also known as the Bay Street Bridge is a major road-crossing of the Victoria Harbour in Victoria, British Columbia.

Point Ellice Bridge
Coordinates48°26′04″N 123°22′42″W / 48.43432°N 123.37826°W / 48.43432; -123.37826
CrossesVictoria Harbour (British Columbia)
LocaleVictoria, British Columbia
Other name(s)Bay Street Bridge
History
Construction start1956
OpenedNovember 1957
Location
Map

Used mainly by motorists, it connects the downtown Rock Bay neighbourhood with Victoria West.[1]

It is one of few crossings toward Esquimalt, the others being the Johnson Street Bridge, the Craigflower Bridge, the Gorge Bridge, and the pedestrian Selkirk Trestle.

In 1896 it was the site of the Point Ellice Bridge disaster, when the unmaintained bridge collapsed, killing 55 people. [2]

The current structure was built in 1956–57 and was subject to major upgrades in 2001–02 and 2019,[3] during which it was closed to traffic for 5 months.[4]

Plans to widen the bridge to better accommodate cyclists were originally developed in 2001, at an estimated price of $15,250,000.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pendergast, Denton (2016-04-01). "Point Ellice / Bay Street Bridges". Victoria Harbour History. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  2. ^ "A grim anniversary: 125 years since Victoria bridge collapse claimed 55 lives".
  3. ^ "Point Ellice Bridge Construction Starts in May" (PDF). City of Victoria. 2019-05-01.
  4. ^ "Victoria businesses concerned about 5-month construction on Bay Street bridge".
  5. ^ "Point Ellice Bridge: Rehabilitation/Repairs".

48°26′03″N 123°22′43″W / 48.4343°N 123.3786°W / 48.4343; -123.3786