High Level Bridge (Edmonton, Alberta)

Canada / Alberta / Edmonton / Edmonton, Alberta
 place with historical importance, bridge, invisible, do not draw title

The High Level Bridge, opened in 1913, spans the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton, Alberta. Located next to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the bridge linked the then-separate communities of Edmonton and Strathcona. It was designed from the outset to accommodate rail, streetcar, automobile and pedestrian traffic. The Canadian Pacific Railway, responsible for the design of the bridge, ceased rail operations over the span in 1989. In summer months, members of the public can ride the High Level Streetcar over the top deck.

In 1980, the "Great Divide Waterfall," by artist Peter Lewis, was added to the structure. This man-made waterfall drops 45 metres (150 feet) from the top of the bridge into the North Saskatchewan below, and operates during holiday weekends in the summer months.

Extensive repairs and the addition and widening of pedestrian sidewalks were completed in 1994-95. The original lead paint on the bridge was carefully removed and over 100,000 litres of paint were used to recoat the girders.

Currently the upper level is the property of the Province of Alberta, so as to allow for the future high speed rail link transportation corridor to have access to downtown.

The Edmonton-area Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer uses a rivet hammer purportedly used in the bridge's construction as part of its ceremony.


Feb
1991 Car HANKAI 247 arrives from Osaka, Japan

1995 Car HANKAI 247 Starts Operation on the High Level Bridge Line

1996 Electrification begins on the High Level Bridge Line
(104 St. to south end of bridge)

Sep
1996 Car HANKAI 247 operates on the High Level Bridge Line under its own power
(from Strathcona to south end of High Level Bridge)
www.rewedmonton.ca/content_view2?CONTENT_ID=1329
www.rewedmonton.ca/content_view2?CONTENT_ID=1023
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   53°31'46"N   113°30'41"W

Comments

  • This is one of my favourite places in Edmonton. I find excuses to walk across it and it makes for wonderful photos.
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This article was last modified 18 years ago