Heron Road Bridge, Memorial bridge in Ottawa, Canada
Heron Road Bridge crosses both the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal, connecting Baseline Road to Heron Road near Carleton University in Ottawa. The structure underwent major rehabilitation work to restore and strengthen the crossing.
During its 1966 construction, the bridge experienced a catastrophic collapse that resulted in nine worker deaths. This disaster became a defining moment in discussions about workplace safety standards in Canada.
The bridge serves as a memorial to workplace safety, with commemorative markers at Vincent Massey Park that honor construction workers.
The bridge is within walking distance of Carleton's surroundings and offers clear views of both the river and canal below. The memorial site in nearby Vincent Massey Park is easy to locate and accessible year-round.
The collapse was so violent that nearby seismometers detected and recorded the impact, revealing the tremendous force released during the incident. This makes the disaster notable even from a scientific standpoint.
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