Jacques Cartier Bridge, Cantilever bridge in Ville-Marie, Canada
The Jacques Cartier Bridge is a cantilever structure spanning the Saint Lawrence River in Ville-Marie, linking Montreal to Longueuil over a distance of 2687 meters. It carries five vehicle lanes along with separate pathways for pedestrians and cyclists on either side of the roadway.
Engineer Philip Louis Pratley designed the steel structure, which opened in 1930 as the Harbour Bridge and initially served to connect the port with the southern shore. Four years later, it received its current name to commemorate the French explorer's first voyage into these waters in 1534.
The structure has carried its current name since 1934, honoring the 400th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's first arrival in the region. The evening lighting system responds to environmental data such as wind, temperature, and seasonal changes, casting shifting colors across the river that Montrealers watch from both shores.
The vehicle roadway runs through the center, while the walking and cycling paths sit on the outer edges and offer open views of the river. Crossing on foot or by bicycle takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on pace, and requires some stamina due to the incline.
The roadway alignment deviates twice from a straight line, once through the Craig curve and again to bypass a soap factory property whose owner refused to sell. These deviations are barely noticeable when crossing, but they shape the recognizable silhouette of the bridge when viewed from a distance.
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