Lethbridge's High Level Bridge

Potash train crossing Lethbridge's High Level Bridge

Lethbridge, Alberta hosts the largest conventional trestle railroad bridge ever built, the High Level Bridge. This bridge was started during 1908 and was completed in 1909, and is just over a mile long at 5,331 feet (1,624m) and rises 314' (95.7m) over the Oldman River.

This colossal structure crossing the Oldman River replaced the more circuitous original route over the St. Mary's River. The bridge was built by the CPR with 12,200 tons of steel and 17,090 cubic yards of concrete, among other materials.

Train crossing the Lethbridge trestle

The bridge was built with the use of a "traveller". This large device was basically a large crane on rails, and it was used to build each section of the bridge.

As that was completed, it was rolled forward on the newly-constructed piece to begin the next section.

The traveller was built on site and placed the last girder in June 1909.

I suppose this method would require a lot of confidence in the bridge piece that you had just completed! (image at right from the Crowsnest Pass Railway Route site)

Looking through

It's interesting to compare this bridge with the Salmon River trestle, the second longest railway bridge in Canada.

• Length: Lethbridge - 5,331' (1,624m); Salmon River - 3,920' (1,194m)
• Height: Lethbridge - 314' (95.7m); Salmon River - 195' (59.4m)
• Towers: Lethbridge - 33; Salmon River - 51

It's notable that the Lethbridge viaduct has 35% less towers yet is 35% longer.

Lethbridge's towers are much wider than most (67' / 20m) and the spans between towers are also longer than most (97' / 30m).

Everyone likes to look at this bridge

The bridge dominates the area and is easily accessible by foot. I've walked under it on the public paths along the river and you can easily see the western end by parking in the Heritage Heights area of western Lethbridge and walking over. It casts an impressive shadow on Google Maps.

I first visited Lethbridge in August 2013. I was lucky to spot a train crossing the bridge but didn't get the head end. You can see that photo above in black-and-white.

I visited again in May 2016 and spent several hours around the bridge one beautiful evening. I parked in Heritage Heights and clambered down to the Oldman river. It's quite a long trip down!

The bridge is quite impressive from all angles. It's difficult to capture the entirety of the bridge without being very far off. I took a little break and just sat and took it in.

Just taking it in

After quite a while, I started back. I heard a thrum in the distance and it turned out to be a potash train, led by a trio of Union Pacific locomotives. They looked tiny way up there on the viaduct.

UP 5522, 5374 and 5546 crossing the Lethbridge viaduct

The train went on and on and on. I think the speed limit is 30 MPH on the bridge but it could be less.

Canpotex cars on the Lethbridge viaduct

Unfortunately this bridge appears to be popular for suicides. I noticed prominent "no trespassing" signs at the end along with a large "LIFE IS WORTH LIVING" sign with a phone number for the Suicide Crisis Line (1-888-787-2880).

If you're ever in the area, I highly encourage you to check this bridge out. It's very impressive.

Videos

I found a few videos of the bridge that you might like.

• Crossing the bridge on CP 8765
• CP 2816 crossing the bridge
• Manifest freight train crossing

For More Information

• Construction of the Lethbridge Viaduct
• Alberta's Largest Railway Bridges
• The Bridge, Then and Now
• In Search of Haneyville, history of the line

Other Bridge-Related Posts

• CN's Salmon River Trestle in New Brunswick
• BNSF's High Line Bridge in North Dakota
• CN's Fraser River bridge outside Prince George, British Columbia
• Ex CN Hiram Creek trestle in New Brunswick
• Book review: North American Railroad Bridges