The High Level Bridge

By: Ryan Krawchuk

Possibly the most iconic landmark in Edmonton, the High Level Bridge was constructed to link the communities of Edmonton and Strathcona spawning the merger into the City of Edmonton in 1912. Its massive length (772.24 metres) covers 28 total spans, on a combination of concrete and steel piers, standing 47.55 metres above the North Saskatchewan River. Planning began in 1903, with the federal government requiring that the bridge was at least 150 feet above the waters of the North Saskatchewan River. Construction began in 1910, employing over 500 men, as part of the four great steel truss bridges constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway in Western Canada before World War One.

From the initial designs, the bridge was to accommodate rail, streetcar, two-way automobile, and pedestrian traffic. Originally, the bridge included three tracks on the upper deck; one Canadian Pacific Railway track with one streetcar on each side, making this bridge unique in Western Canada. The bridge was opened in several stages. The first CPR train to travel on the bridge first crossed on June 2, 1913, (No.33 with seven cars carrying over 200 passengers) becoming part of the Edmonton-Calgary main line. Streetcar service began on the bridge on August 11, 1913, on the western track. One passenger reported the trip this way: “From the streetcar, one looks down from a dizzy height into the murky waters of the Saskatchewan without so much as a handrail to break the gaze into the abysmal depths below.” The eastern streetcar track opened only a month later in September. Then finally, automobile traffic was opened following the installation of galvanized iron plates to prevent cinders from falling from the steam trains onto the road surface.

On April 21, 1035, a baby girl was born in the taxi of A.C. “Curly” Wallen. A contest, sponsored by the Edmonton Journal, was given to find a suitable name to mark the occasion. Suggestions included Bridgena, Ponsetta, Taxina, and Highlevela. The baby’s parents chose Olive Marie Poncella Beauchamp, with the name Poncella (meaning “from the bridge”) coming from Annette La Rivier, a 12-year old girl.

On September 1, 1951, the last Edmonton Transit Streetcar travelled over the bridge, although the Canadian Pacific Railway continued to operate until 1989.

The High Level Bridge has had many modifications completed. On November 19, 1980, the bidirectional traffic changed to one-way traffic as part of “Project Uni.” In the mid-90s, the High Level Bridge had its pedestrian sidewalks widened, the original lead paint was painstakingly removed, and over 100,000 litres of new paint were applied to recoat the girders. In April of 2013, a campaign called “Light the Bridge” was launched aimed at covering the bridge with LED lights so that it could be lit up on special occasions. Raising more than $2.5 million for the project, it was finally unveiled on July 1, 2014, opening with the Edmonton Symphony orchestra playing “O Canada.” In July 2016, the installation of suicide barriers and emergency telephones lowered suicide attempts by over 50 percent. In February of 2018, a feasibility study explained that the new LRT line could not be built on the top deck of the bridge due to corrosion. The main trusses had lost more than 40 percent of their width due to rust.

Those of us who lived through the 80s in Edmonton will definitely remember the “Great Divide” waterfall. Envisioned by artist Peter Lewis, the waterfall was added to the bridge for Alberta’s 75th anniversary. The waterfall had a height of 64 metres from the top of the bridge (7 metres taller than Niagra Falls in Ontario) and expressed into the North Saskatchewan River at a rate of 50,000 litres per minute. Operating on holiday weekends in the summer months until the end of the summer in 2009. The Great Divide waterfall was shut off permanently after consultations with Environment Canada.

At over 100 years old, this bridge holds a special place in the hearts of every Edmontonian.