Albert Memorial Bridge (Regina, Saskatchewan) facts for kids

The Albert Memorial Bridge is a special bridge in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It crosses over Wascana Creek and is part of Albert Street. This bridge is not just for cars; it's also a way to remember soldiers from Saskatchewan who fought in World War I. It is 256 metres (about 840 feet) long and 22 metres (about 72 feet) wide.

The Story of Albert Memorial Bridge

Building the Bridge During Tough Times

The Albert Memorial Bridge was built during a very difficult time called the Great Depression. This was a period in history when many people lost their jobs and money was scarce. Building the bridge was part of a big project to help people find work. This project also involved making Wascana Lake cleaner and building two islands in it.

The bridge was designed by a group of architects named Puntin, O'Leary, and Coxall, along with a famous engineer named Claude A.P. Turner. They made the bridge look very fancy! It has cool designs inspired by ancient Egypt, tall lamp posts, many flagpoles, shiny terra-cotta decorations, and even buffalo heads.

"Bryant's Folly" and Its Opening

At first, people thought the bridge would cost less than $100,000 to build. But the final cost was much higher, about $250,000! Because it cost so much, some local people made fun of it. They called it "Bryant's Folly," after James Bryant, who was the public works minister at the time.

The bridge officially opened on November 10, 1930. Premier J. T. M. Anderson dedicated it as a memorial. It was meant to honor the soldiers from Saskatchewan who died in World War I. There were even spaces planned for plaques with the names of the fallen soldiers, but these plaques were never put up. Sixty-five years later, a separate memorial for World War I was built near the legislative building.

Restoring the Bridge

The Albert Memorial Bridge has been repaired and updated several times. On October 2, 1988, it was re-dedicated after a big restoration project that cost $1.4 million.

In June 2009, another major repair project started. The road surface was fixed, and the decorative parts, like the terra-cotta railings, were restored. This work was estimated to cost about $5 million. By late October of that year, most of the work was finished, except for the final layer of asphalt.

Gallery

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  The dam of Albert Memorial Bridge with a terracotta representation of the Saskatchewan coat of arms above

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  Regina coat of arms on the bridge

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  Glazed terracotta buffalo detail on the bridge

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  Plaque