Spanning a Century: Edmonton’s High Level Bridge through Photographs

In 2013, The Provincial Archives of Alberta presented an exhibit on the High Level Bridge to mark its centenary. For more information, read more below.



May 19, 1903: The Canadian Pacific Railway wants to extend its line from Strathcona to Edmonton, but does not want to use the Canadian Northern Railway branch. It is proposed that the Canadian Pacific Railway would build a high level bridge into Edmonton; the proposal was made obligatory through an amendment to a federal bill that the bridge be 150 feet above water.

January 2, 1906: The Canadian Pacific Railway and the City of Edmonton begin negotiations for a bridge into Edmonton.

October 20, 1909: An agreement is signed by City of Edmonton, the Calgary and Edmonton Railway Company and the Canadian Pacific Railway regarding the construction of the High Level Bridge.

November 18, 1909: Edmontonians vote more than 3 to 1 in favour of the agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway for the High Level Bridge.

June 10, 1910: Through Order-in-Council 341/10, the Government of Alberta agrees to pay the City of Edmonton $175,000 for the construction of the High Level Bridge.

August 25, 1910: A ceremonial sod turning is to be held for the High Level Bridge. Construction for the 62 foundations of the land piers and four river piers begins, while the river is at its lowest water level.

November 19, 1910: Between 11 p.m. and midnight, Luke McDonough, originally from Lacombe, is killed while working on the High Level Bridge. He was crushed by the hammer of a pile driver.

November 29, 1910: Chris Olsen is injured while working on the High Level Bridge. He dies from injuries on November 30, 1910. He was shoveling clay in an eight foot pit when a cave-in occurred.

July 18, 1911: Construction of the three main river piers is completed.

December 1911: Shipments of steel beams are arriving daily from Walkerville, Ontario. Hundreds of railway cars will transport the steel which will be used to construct the span of the High Level Bridge beginning in early 1912.

October 1, 1912: Fifty men engaged in steel work on the High Level Bridge fail to report for work, demanding 50 cents an hour for a nine-hour working day (their previous agreement was for 45 cents an hour for a ten-hour working day).

June 2, 1913: The first Canadian Pacific Railway passenger train uses the newly completed High Level Bridge.

August 11, 1913: At 11 a.m., the first streetcar crosses the High Level Bridge. Only the west side tracks are ready to use.

August 31, 1913: The pedestrian walkway opens.

October 1, 1913: The traffic deck of the High Level Bridge is completed. However, the Canadian Pacific Railway barricades the roadway until it is paid the balance of the construction contract, $37,672.

October 16, 1913: By this date, the High Level Bridge is completely open. Based on The Motor Vehicle Act (Statutes of Alberta, 1911-1912, chapter 6), the speed limit for automobiles would have been 6 miles an hour (more accurately a “speed not exceeding one mile in ten minutes”) (or approximately 10 km an hour).

April 16, 1914: The permanent lights on the High Level Bridge are all turned on for the first time.

June 22, 1931: The High Level Bridge reopens after having been closed since April 12, 1931 for repairs. Work included a new approach at the south end of the bridge.

April 21, 1935: A daughter is born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Valmor Beauchamp. She is the first baby born on the High Level Bridge, in the taxi of A.C. “Curly” Wallen.

October 24, 1949: the Edmonton Journal provides statistics on the traffic use of the Bridge: in 1936, there were 5,503 automobiles per 24 hours, in 1946, 10,219 per 24 hours, and in 1949, 20,074 per 24 hours.

September 1, 1951: The last streetcar, as part of regular transit service, crosses the High Level Bridge.

September 1, 1980: The “Great Divide Waterfall” gushes over the High Level Bridge for the first time. Peter Lewis’s waterfall from the upper deck of the bridge was constructed through funds received as part Alberta's 75th anniversary celebrations.

November 16, 1980: The High Level Bridge becomes one-way southbound for automobiles.

1989: The Canadian Pacific Railway stops running trains on the upper deck.


Music Included:

Kimiko Ishizaka, J . S. Bach: The Art of the Fugue (Kunst der Fuge ) , BWV 1080 https://archive.org/details/j-s-bach-...
BWV 1080 - 19 Canon Alla Duodecima in Contrapunto Alla Quinta

Various Artists, Frog Legs: Ragtime Era Favorites https://archive.org/details/kzz003
Scott Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag (1899, Zachary Brewster-Geisz)
James Scott - Frog Legs Rag (1906, piano roll)
John H. Glover-Kind - I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside (1909, piano roll)

Peter Dawson and The National Military Band, God save the King (1914) https://archive.org/details/GodSaveTh...