Edmonton History

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.

On November 9, 1908, the Edmonton Radial Railway Service began operations. This streetcar service was established to serve an Edmonton population of 18,500. The fleet of 4 streetcars travelled along 21 km of track, connecting the 4 main neighbourhoods and it cost 5 cents to ride.