Bank Street, old and new

The jury is still out on Lansdowne Park, or as it is now called, TD Place. It used to be a dilapidated old stadium with a great deal of charm. Now it is a modern "urban hub".

The tower is completely out of keeping with the tone of the neighbourhood (the Glebe) - but it could have been much worse. 

The bridge - the Bank Street Bridge, officially known as the Bank Street Canal Bridge - links the Glebe to Old Ottawa South. 

A wooden bridge was first constructed here in 1866. A few years later, a steel swing bridge was built to better allow boats to pass through. The current structure was built in 1912, and was designed to be high enough to not have to open. 

In other words, the engineers were crap. 

By the 1970s, the bridge was falling apart, and trucks were banned in 1981. After some debate about whether to replace or restore the heritage structure, the bridge was fully restored in 1993.

You used to be able to watch soccer matches from the top of the bridge... but like all good things...