Whirlpool Rapids Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, commonly called the Whirlpool Bridge, and until 1937, known as the Lower Steel Arch Bridge, is a spandrel braced, riveted, two-hinged arch bridge
. It crosses the international border between Canada
and the United States
, connecting the commercial downtown districts of Niagara Falls
, Ontario
and Niagara Falls
, New York
. This bridge
is located approximately 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) north of the Rainbow Bridge
and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Falls
. This bridge was acquired by the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
in January 1959.
The bridge was designed by Leffert L. Buck
and constructed between April 9, 1896, and August 27, 1897. It was constructed around the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
so as not to interrupt daily traffic.
The bridge has two decks. The upper deck carries the railway
traffic while the lower deck is a roadway reserved for passenger vehicles only; commercial vehicles and pedestrians are prohibited. The Whirlpool Bridge is reserved for NEXUS
members, a joint program implemented by the Canada Border Services Agency
(CBSA) and United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). There is one lane of traffic to the United States
and one lane to Canada
. The American side connects to New York State Route 104
and New York State Route 182
, while the Canadian side connects to the historic terminus of King's Highways 3A, 20 and 8, now known as River Road and Bridge Street.
A single set of train tracks crosses over the bridge. A Via Rail
station is located on the Canadian side of the bridge.
Just to the south is the disused Michigan Central Railway Bridge
, which was used to carry rail traffic.
Reportedly, the Bridge Commission is considering closure of the upper deck of the bridge if rail users are not willing to pay for repairs. Currently, only the Maple Leaf uses the bridge; the Canadian National Railway
no longer routes freight over the bridge. , the bridge is undergoing refurbishment.
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
. It crosses the international border between Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, connecting the commercial downtown districts of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. This bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
is located approximately 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) north of the Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge (Niagara Falls)
The Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls is an international steel arch bridge across the Niagara River gorge, and is a world-famous tourist site. It connects the cities of Niagara Falls, New York, United States , and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada .-Construction:The Rainbow Bridge was built near the...
and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
. This bridge was acquired by the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission international public authority controlling three bridges between Ontario in Canada and New York in the United States. The Commission's bridges are the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, Whirlpool Rapids Bridge and Rainbow Bridge. These bridges are in the Niagara Falls...
in January 1959.
The bridge was designed by Leffert L. Buck
Leffert L. Buck
Leffert L. Buck was an American civil engineer and a pioneer in the use of steel arch bridge structures. Leffert graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY in 1868...
and constructed between April 9, 1896, and August 27, 1897. It was constructed around the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge
The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge was the world's first working railway suspension bridge. It spanned and stood downstream of Niagara Falls from 1855 to 1897...
so as not to interrupt daily traffic.
The bridge has two decks. The upper deck carries the railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
traffic while the lower deck is a roadway reserved for passenger vehicles only; commercial vehicles and pedestrians are prohibited. The Whirlpool Bridge is reserved for NEXUS
NEXUS (frequent traveller program)
NEXUS is a joint Canada-United States program designed to let pre-approved, low-risk travelers cross the US-Canada border quickly. Members of the program can avoid long waits at border entry points by using self-serve kiosks at airports, reserved lanes at land crossings, or by phoning border...
members, a joint program implemented by the Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border enforcement, immigration enforcement and customs services....
(CBSA) and United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). There is one lane of traffic to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and one lane to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The American side connects to New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
and New York State Route 182
New York State Route 182
New York State Route 182 is a state highway in Niagara County, New York, United States. It serves as a signed connection between the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge over the Niagara River and the Niagara Falls International Airport east of the city of Niagara Falls...
, while the Canadian side connects to the historic terminus of King's Highways 3A, 20 and 8, now known as River Road and Bridge Street.
A single set of train tracks crosses over the bridge. A Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
station is located on the Canadian side of the bridge.
Just to the south is the disused Michigan Central Railway Bridge
Michigan Central Railway Bridge
The Michigan Central Railway Bridge is a steel arch bridge spanning the Niagara Gorge between Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York. The bridge was designed by William Perry Taylor, Chief Engineer J.L. Delming and consulting Norwegian-born engineer Olaf Hoff.Construction on the bridge...
, which was used to carry rail traffic.
Reportedly, the Bridge Commission is considering closure of the upper deck of the bridge if rail users are not willing to pay for repairs. Currently, only the Maple Leaf uses the bridge; the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
no longer routes freight over the bridge. , the bridge is undergoing refurbishment.