You’ve probably seen it on a postcard or a local's Instagram feed. It’s bright, it’s red, and it looks like a giant Chinese finger trap stretching across the Bow River. But if you were around Calgary in 2008, you’d know that the Peace Bridge Calgary was once the most hated piece of infrastructure in the province.
People were furious.
Honestly, the drama was legendary. It was the height of the global financial crisis, and the city decided to drop roughly $24.5 million on a pedestrian bridge. Not just any bridge, but one designed by a "starchitect" from Spain, Santiago Calatrava, without a public competition. Critics called it "Farrell’s Folly" after Druh Farrell, the councillor who championed it. They called it a "bridge to nowhere."
🔗 Read more: How Far Is Knoxville? What Most People Get Wrong About the Gateway to the Smokies
Fast forward to 2026, and the narrative has flipped. It’s now the most photographed landmark in the city. If you’re visiting Calgary, you basically haven't "done" Calgary until you’ve walked through its red helical ribs.
The Math and Magic of the Peace Bridge Calgary
Most people just think it looks cool, but the engineering is actually kind of wild. Calatrava usually does these massive, white, soaring structures with huge masts and cables—think the Milwaukee Art Museum or the Turning Torso. But he couldn't do that here.
Why? Because of the City/Bow River Heliport nearby.
🔗 Read more: Why Yamanouchi Machi Shimotakai Gun Nagano is More Than Just Snow Monkeys
The bridge had to stay low. It couldn't have high arches or cables that would mess with the flight paths of helicopters landing at the nearby medical facilities. This constraint forced a unique design: a double-helix tubular truss.
- No piers in the water: This was a huge deal for the environment. The Bow River is a world-class trout fishery. By spanning 126 meters without any supports in the riverbed, they protected the fish and the river flow.
- The Red and White: While Calatrava almost always uses white, he went with "candy cane" red and white here to match the Canadian and Calgary flags.
- The Width: At 6.2 meters wide inside, it’s double the size of a standard pedestrian bridge. It was built specifically to handle the high volume of commuters moving between Sunnyside and the downtown core.
Why was it so controversial?
It wasn't just the price tag. It was the "single-sourcing." The city didn't open it up to local architects, which felt like a slap in the face to Alberta's talent.
Then came the construction delays. It was supposed to open in 2010. It didn't open until March 2012. There were issues with the welds in Spain. Then there were issues with the concrete. For months, the bridge sat on the riverbank under orange tarps, looking like a discarded science project.
But here is the thing: once it opened, the people showed up.
It turns out that if you build a beautiful, dedicated space for people to walk and bike, they actually use it. By its 10th anniversary in 2022, it had seen over 10 million pedestrian trips. In a city often criticized for being "car-centric," the Peace Bridge Calgary became a symbol of a shifting urban identity.
Maintenance and the Glass Problem
If you walk across it today, you might notice something different about the side panels. For years, the bridge used glass balustrades. Vandalism was a nightmare. People would throw rocks or even scooters at the glass. Replacing a single panel cost the city upwards of $10,000 to $14,000.
In 2023, the city finally pivoted. They consulted with Calatrava’s firm and replaced many of the glass panels with tensioned steel cables. It’s more durable, way cheaper to maintain, and honestly, it still looks great. It’s a pragmatic solution to a very "big city" problem.
💡 You might also like: How Far Is Ocala From Jacksonville: What Most People Get Wrong
Best Time to Visit and What to Look For
If you’re heading down there, don't just walk across and leave.
- The Blue Hour: Photographers love this spot about 30 minutes after sunset. The bridge’s internal LED lighting kicks in, and the red glow against the deep blue sky is incredible.
- The Symmetry: Stand right in the middle of the bike lane (watch for cyclists!) and look straight down the tube. The repeating geometric shadows are a dream for your camera.
- The River View: Because there are no supports under the bridge, the view of the Bow River is unobstructed. You can see the rafters in the summer and the ice floes in the winter.
How to get there
The bridge connects the Eau Claire area on the south to the Sunnyside/Hillhurst community on the north.
- If you're driving: Park near Prince's Island Park or in the Sunnyside residential area (watch the permit signs).
- If you're on the CTrain: Get off at the Sunnyside Station and walk south for about 10 minutes.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
- Bring a wide-angle lens: You’ll need it to capture the scale of the helix from the inside.
- Watch the lanes: The bridge is divided. The center lane is for wheels (bikes, scooters), and the outer paths are for walkers. Don't be that tourist who blocks the bike lane for a selfie; Calgarians are polite, but they have places to be.
- Check out Poppy Plaza: Since you're already on the north side, walk a few minutes west to Poppy Plaza. It’s another beautiful memorial space made of weathered steel that ties into the "Peace" theme of the area.
- Grab a coffee in Sunnyside: Walk north into the neighborhood after your bridge stroll. Vendome Cafe or any of the spots on 10th St NW are perfect for a post-walk refuel.
The Peace Bridge Calgary is more than just a way to get across the water. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most argued-about projects end up being the ones a city can't imagine living without. It’s a piece of art that you can commute through.
Next Steps for Your Trip
To make the most of your time in the area, combine your visit with a walk through Prince's Island Park, which is just a five-minute stroll east along the river path. If you're looking for the best angle for a "bridge + skyline" photo, head to the north bank and walk about 100 meters west toward the curling club—the perspective from there captures the red structure perfectly against the downtown skyscrapers.