Mackenzie King Bridge

The Mackenzie King Bridge is a transit bridge spanning the Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa, carrying multiple lanes of traffic and dedicated bus stops. It links different parts of the city center and provides passage between major public areas and government buildings.

The bridge was built in 1951 as part of Ottawa's mid-century urban development. A major renovation in the 1990s updated its structure and improved its role in the city's transportation network.

The bridge carries the name of a prime minister who shaped Canada during the 20th century, marking an important figure in the nation's political history.

The bridge is open daily and offers a direct route through downtown for vehicles, buses, and pedestrians. Visitors should expect traffic during peak hours and can use nearby bus stops for convenient connections to other parts of the city.

The bridge's name was chosen over an alternative proposal to honor Colonel John By, the founder of the settlement that became Ottawa. This decision reflected deliberate thinking about which figures deserved to be remembered in the city's infrastructure.