Important Piece of History Reconstructed in Guelph

Guelph’s Norwich Street Bridge is an important piece of community history.

The bridge was constructed in 1882 to enable movement of materials across the Speed River and what was then one of Guelph’s main industrial areas.

Closed to vehicular traffic in 1998, the bridge now serves as a key pedestrian and cycling link from nearby residential neighbourhoods to the downtown.

Using investments from the Canada Community-Building Fund, the City of Guelph rehabilitated the bridge in 2021 with a new design that preserves its heritage elements. This updated design allowed the Municipality to keep the original iron trusses, while reconstructing the bridge to be self-supporting and maintain a safe public crossing area.

This much-loved bridge is a vital part of Guelph’s active transportation and trails network and is well-used in all four seasons by school children, commuters and neighbourhood residents. Thanks to the CCBF, it will be enjoyed for many more years to come.