Low Level Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Low Level Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 53°32′17″N 113°29′13″W / 53.53806°N 113.48694°W |
| Carries | Motor vehicles, pedestrians |
| Crosses | North Saskatchewan River |
| Locale | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Official name | Low Level Bridge |
| Heritage status | Edmonton Register of Historic Resources, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering National Historic Engineering site |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Through Pratt truss |
| Total length | 213.1 m (699 ft) (northbound) 211.7 m (695 ft) (southbound) |
| Number of spans | 4 |
| Piers in water | 3 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1900 1948 (south span) |
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The Low Level Bridge is a famous bridge in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It crosses the North Saskatchewan River. This bridge was very important because it was the first one built across the river.
It opened in 1900. At first, it was designed to carry a railway. A railway track was added in 1902 for the Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific Railway. This company later joined with the Canadian Northern Railway.
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A Bridge Through Time
The Low Level Bridge has seen many changes over the years. It helped people and goods move across the river.
Early Transportation
From 1908 to 1939, streetcars used the bridge. They ran on a special track called a gauntlet track. After streetcars, trolley buses used the bridge. They used it from 1939 until 1965.
How the Bridge Got its Name
When it was first built, people called it the Edmonton Bridge. Sometimes, it was also known as the Inter-Urban Bridge. This was because it connected the towns of Strathcona and Edmonton. Later, another bridge called the High Level Bridge was built. After that, this bridge became known as the Low Level Bridge.
Expanding the Bridge
In 1948, a second part of the bridge was added. This new part looked just like the original. It was built a little bit upstream from the first span.
The new 1948 span was first used for cars going in both directions. The older part of the bridge was kept for railway use. In 1954, the railway track was taken off the original bridge. That part of the bridge was then made wider. It started carrying two lanes of traffic going west. Since then, the 1948 bridge has carried all the traffic going east.
Connecting Communities
The Low Level Bridge helps connect different parts of Edmonton. On the south side, it links to the community of Cloverdale. On the north side, it connects to the Rossdale and Downtown areas.
