Red Deer Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge

The Red Deer Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge is a former Canadian Pacific Railway bridge turned pedestrian bridge in the City of Red Deer, located in Central Alberta, Canada.[1] The bridge carries cyclists and pedestrians on the Trans Canada Trail over the Red Deer River, another part of the Trans Canada Trail, and a decommissioned street.

CPR Bridge
The CPR Bridge. Picture taken from downstream on another bridge across from the CPR bridge.
Coordinates52.2757°N 113.8170°W / 52.2757; -113.8170
CarriesTrans Canada Trail
CrossesRed Deer River, Trans Canada Trail, decommissioned street
LocaleRed Deer
Official nameCanadian Pacific Railway Bridge
Named forCanadian Pacific Railway
Maintained byCity of Red Deer
Preceded byUsed to carry Traffic and Railway.
Characteristics
Designriveted steel, engineered truss, railway bridge
Materialtimber, steel, concrete, earth
History
Construction start1890
Construction end1891
Opened1890 or 1891
Closed1991
ReplacesReopened 1992, replaces Canadian Pacific Railway.
Statistics
Daily trafficPedestrians & Cyclists

History

The bridge was originally constructed during the winter of 1890-91 as a sturdy 3-span timber truss railway bridge near the Leonard Gaetz homestead by the Canadian Pacific Railway for the Calgary and Edmonton Railway.[2] It served as a traffic and rail bridge. The original spans over the river were eventually replaced by the current two 150 ft. span steel truss through system in 1907 at the cost of an estimated C$57,000. Earth and concrete replaced some other parts of the original trestle. In July 1908, bridge labourer James J. Shea died of complications after falling into the river below.[3]

In 1991, the bridge, and a nearby train station, were abandoned after the rail yards were relocated to the west side of the city and a new bridge was constructed. On September 3, 1991, Red Deer City Council passed a by-law designating the rail bridge as a Municipal Historic Resource and in 1993, the bridge was designated a Provincial Historic site.[4] On Sept. 13, 1992, the bridge was officially reopened at the cost of C$171,500.

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See also

References
  1. "CPR Bridge - The City of Red Deer". Reddeer.ca. 1991-09-03. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  2. "Railway Bridges of Central Alberta - Forth Junction Project". Forthjunction.ca. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  3. "Canadian Pacific Railway bridge now 100 years old - Michael Dawe". Forthjunction.ca. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  4. "Downtown Heritage Sites Gallery - The City of Red Deer". Reddeer.ca. 1991-09-03. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
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