Walterdale Bridge

Walterdale Bridge
The new Walterdale Bridge nearing completion in August 2017
Coordinates	53°31′43″N 113°30′07″W / 53.5286°N 113.502°W / 53.5286; -113.502
Carries	105 Street northbound, pedestrian walkways
Crosses	North Saskatchewan River
Locale	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Official name	Walterdale Bridge
Named for	John Walter
Maintained by	City of Edmonton
Characteristics
Total length	230 m (750 ft)[1]
Longest span	206 m (676 ft)[2]
History
Opened	September 29, 2017
Location

(Previous) Walterdale Bridge
The old Walterdale Bridge in 2007
Coordinates	53°31′43″N 113°30′07″W / 53.5286°N 113.502°W / 53.5286; -113.502
Carries	105 Street northbound, pedestrian walkway
Crosses	North Saskatchewan River
Locale	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Official name	Walterdale Bridge (1967–2017)
Other name(s)	Fifth Street Bridge (1913–1914) 105th Street Bridge (1914–1967)
Named for	John Walter
Maintained by	City of Edmonton
Characteristics
Design	Steel truss with steel grating deck
Total length	214.2 m (703 ft)
History
Opened	1913
Closed	2017
Replaced by	New Walterdale Bridge
Location

The Walterdale Bridge is a through arch bridge across the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It replaced the previous Walterdale Bridge in 2017. The new bridge has three lanes for northbound vehicular traffic and improved pedestrian and cyclist crossings.

Old Walterdale Bridge (1913–2017)

The previous Walterdale Bridge (formerly called the 105 Street Bridge, renamed in 1967)^[3] was a steel grating-decked truss bridge. It was built in 1913 by the Dominion Bridge Company and was named after John Walter, an early settler who ran a ferry at this approximate location.^[4] The neighbourhood Walterdale at this location was also named after John Walter.^[5]

Demolition of the 1913 bridge began in October 2017 after the decking, sidewalks, and utilities had been removed, and was completed by the end of that year.^[6]

Replacement bridge (2017–present)

Planning for the replacement of the 1913 Walterdale Bridge began over a decade before construction on the new bridge started. In 2001, an Edmonton City Council committee rejected a $190-million proposal for a tunnel under Saskatchewan Drive to directly connect the new bridge to Gateway Boulevard.^[7] Planners considered both a four-lane one-way bridge and a five-lane bridge with a single southbound lane to connect the area to Kinsmen park.^[7]

Construction began on a replacement bridge in early 2013 and was scheduled to be completed in late 2015; however, it did not open (two lanes only) until September 18, 2017. The contractor faced over $10 million in penalties for the delay. The new bridge has three lanes for northbound vehicular traffic and improved pedestrian and cyclist crossings. Roadway and trail links north and south of the bridge were partially complete, and the pedestrian access and all lanes opened on September 29, 2017.^[8]

The new bridge is east of the original bridge site, and is supported by concrete thrust blocks on the banks of the river, eliminating the need for piers. The arches are 56 m (184 ft) tall.^[9]

Gallery

• 
  Walterdale Bridge (1977)
• 
  Old Walterdale Bridge with early work for new one barely visible on the banks (March 2013).
• 
  The replacement bridge under construction, photo from direction of water (May 2016).
• 
  Construction crew at work under the new bridge, photo taken from the foot and cycle path (Date unknown).
• 
  Cranes and nearly finished structure of new bridge with surroundings
  (September 7, 2016).
• 
  Old and new Walterdale bridges (May 25, 2017)

See also

• List of crossings of the North Saskatchewan River
• List of bridges in Canada

References