Lethbridge Viaduct
| High Level Bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Coordinates | 49°41′51″N 112°52′7″W / 49.69750°N 112.86861°WCoordinates: 49°41′51″N 112°52′7″W / 49.69750°N 112.86861°W |
| Carries | Railway |
| Crosses | Oldman River |
| Locale | Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada |
| Official name | Lethbridge Viaduct |
| Maintained by | Canadian Pacific Railway |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 1,624 m |
| Width | 32.6 m |
| Height | 95.7 m |
| History | |
| Opened | August 1909 |
The Lethbridge Viaduct, commonly known as the High Level Bridge, was constructed between 1907–1909 at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada at a cost of $1,334,525.
This massive steel trestle over the Oldman River was designed by the Canadian Pacific Railway's bridge department in Montreal. The field work was directed by CPR's Assistant Chief Engineer John Edward Schwitzer. The steel work was manufactured by the Canadian Bridge Company of Walkerville, Ontario. A 100 man gang worked on the erection of the steel. Although there were some initial problems with settlement, the bridge has proved to be an enduring engineering work and is still in use today.
This bridge is the largest railway structure in Canada and the largest of its type in the world. It was built as part of a major diversion of the Crowsnest Pass route between Lethbridge and Fort Macleod. The river crossing was previously over a wooden trestle measuring 894 m (2,933 ft) long and 20 m (66 ft) high; an impressive structure in its own right.
The old approach was over steep grades that hampered operations. In addition, extensive cuts and many other bridges were needed to cross various creeks and coulees. Past the St. Mary River crossing, several large cuts had been required. Large bridges were also required, including a 275 m (902 ft) trestle with a 61 m (200 ft) span west of the St. Mary River, a 183 m (600 ft) trestle at Eight-Mile Coulee and another of 274 m (899 ft) in length near Eight-Mile Coulee. At Sixteen-Mile Coulee there was a 244 m (801 ft) trestle, 40.5 m (132.9 ft) high with a 61 m (200 ft) truss span over the creek. The trestles on the original line out of Lethbridge totalled 4.5 km (2.8 mi).
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