La Salle Causeway

La Salle Causeway spans across the Cataraqui River, connecting downtown Kingston to Pittsburgh Township through a series of engineered structures. The central section features a movable bascule bridge that allows marine traffic to pass, while concrete spans form the rest of the crossing.

Completed in 1917, the causeway replaced the original wooden Penny Bridge from 1829. The central bascule mechanism was designed by Joseph Strauss, the engineer who later created the Golden Gate Bridge.

The causeway takes its name from René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle, who established Fort Frontenac in 1673 at what is now the western end of this crossing. This historical connection remains embedded in the structure's identity, even as the original fort has faded from the landscape.

The causeway functions as part of Highway 2 and serves as the main transportation route for vehicles in the area. The central section is raised periodically for boat traffic, so expect potential delays when crossing if marine passage is needed.

Three different bridge types make up the causeway: the central movable bascule from 1917 sits alongside concrete spans added much later in 1962 and 1993. This blend of eras creates a kind of timeline of bridge engineering visible in a single crossing.