The Pedestrian/Cyclist Bridge (The Bridge) is an important community link that connects the Trans-Canada Trail in Kitchener and Cambridge and provides a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists to cross Highway 401 in Waterloo Region. The 101.5-metre bridge has an enclosed arched canopy that, at the centre of the arch, rises 14.58-metres. The $1.7-million construction cost of the bridge was funded equally by the project partners, the Region of Waterloo and the Cities of Cambridge and Kitchener. Planning for The Bridge, which is the first of its kind to be built across Highway 401, began in 2003 and culminated with a celebration of its opening in October 2007. The Bridge supports and promotes active transportation, creates a vital link between two communities, improves access to a community college and is a safe connection for users of the Trans-Canada Trail, while enhancing the local trail system. It lays the foundation for reduced auto trips for future development on adjacent lands. The project pioneered three significant innovations in Waterloo Region that will serve as models for similar projects: a collaborative municipal partnership; a broad-based community consultation and design program; and innovative construction techniques that translated a unique vision into reality.
