Peace Bridge (Calgary)

Peace Bridge is a pedestrian bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, that accommodates both pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The bridge opened for use on March 24, 2012. It has the popular nickname "Finger Trap Bridge" due to its visual similarity to the finger trap puzzle.The bridge was built by The City of Calgary to connect the southern Bow River pathway and Downtown Calgary with the northern Bow River pathway and the community of Sunnyside. This connection was designed to accommodate the increasing number of people commuting to and from work and those utilizing Calgary's pathways. The bridge is reportedly used by 6000 people a day and has ranked among the top 10 architectural projects in 2012 and among the top 10 public spaces of 2012.DesignThe design follows strict requirements with no piers in the water and restricted height .The bridge has also been designed to: Withstand Calgary's one-in-100 year flood cycle Meet a minimum 75 year life span Allow barrier free access for people of all mobility types Provide comfort and security through lighting The bridge is a departure from Calatrava's previous designs, which were typically asymmetric shapes anchored by high masts. Another atypical element is the color; while most of Calatrava's designs are white, the Peace Bridge features red and white as used in both the Flag of Canada and the Flag of Calgary.