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While it has definitely stood the test of time, Louise Bridge, built in 1921, wasn't the only link across the Bow River built at 10th Street. It was actually preceded by the wooden Bow Marsh Bridge, which provided passage across the waterway starting in 1887. But flooding and weathering would cause rapid deterioration, requiring a replacement steel bridge to be built in 1906.
The succeeding structure was known colloquially as the 10th Street and Sunnyside Bridge, but was formally given the name Louise. Contrary to popular belief, the bridge didn't take its identity from Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. Rather, the name honoured the late daughter of William Henry Cushing, who served as mayor of Calgary from 1900 to 1901, and as provincial commissioner of Public Works at the time of construction.
Urban expansion would make the steel bridge obsolete by 1912, with plans put in motion for a span more conducive to the realities and responsibilities of the city's rising regional stature. A new bridge, also called the Hillhurst Bridge, was completed in 1921, serving streetcar and pedestrian traffic. A major rehabilitation program was undertaken in 1995 at a cost of $5.1 million.
Connecting the West End with Memorial Drive and Kensington, Louise Bridge now carries approximately 32,000 vehicles every day across its reversible lanes. The reinforced concrete structure is built on five wall arched spans and boasts a length of 172 metres. From the north, its entrance is now graced by Poppy Plaza, a dynamic public place that pays tribute to citizens who served during wartime. Wood, weathered steel and gentle landscaping turned what had been a marginal green space into a contemplative space for events and respite.
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