Sioux Narrows Bridge

Infobox_Bridge
bridge_name=Sioux Narrows Bridge

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caption=New Sioux Narrows Bridge opened in 2007.
official_name=
crosses=Sioux Narrows (Lake of the Woods)
carries=Highway 71
locale=Sioux Narrows, Ontario
design=Truss arch bridge
mainspan=
length=
width=
height=
below=
begin=
open=1936 (original)
2007 (new)
closed=
maint=Ontario Ministry of Transportation
id=9340
coordinates=
traffic=

The Sioux Narrows Bridge is a bridge on Highway 71 at Sioux Narrows, Ontario, which spans the Sioux Narrows strait between Whitefish Bay and Lake of the Woods.

Originally built in 1936 as an all-wooden truss bridge built out of Douglas fir timber, it was at 210 feet the longest single-span wooden bridge in North America. The bridge overlooks the site of an 18th century battle in which the local Anishnaabe and Cree nations defeated an invading force of Sioux, which is reportedly the only time in the entire history of the North American First Nations that the Sioux were defeated in battle.

Due to its unique construction, the bridge was designated an Ontario Heritage Site.

Reconstruction

In the 1990s and early 2000s, the deteriorating quality of the structure necessitated load and lane restrictions on the bridge, and reconstruction soon became a necessity. Finally, a temporary bridge was built in 2003, and the wooden bridge was dismantled.

The decision was finally made to balance the need for structural improvements and durability with the structure's heritage by building the new bridge out of steel, but cladding the steel trusses in wood to preserve the original structure's appearance.

Construction began on the new bridge in 2006, and the bridge was reopened to traffic in November 2007.

External links

* [http://www.71easiouxnarrows.ca/ Sioux Narrows Bridge project study]
* [http://www.thekingshighway.ca/PHOTOS/Hwy71photos.htm Highway 71 photos at thekingshighway.ca]