I Heart Edmonton

The High Level Bridge by emil tiedemann T HE City of Strathcona - located on the southside of the North Saskatchewan - amalgamated with the City of Edmonton - located on the northside of the river - on February 1, 1912. It was 16 months later, on June 2, 1913, that the High Level Bridge - linking the south with the north - was open to traffic for the first time.  Not just automobile traffic either! The 755-metre long, 49-metre high steel and concrete structure was designed by Phillips B. Motley to accommodate vehicles, rail, streetcars, and pedestrians, and all but rail continue to use Edmonton’s most iconic and oldest bridge spanning the river.    The stunning High Level Bridge at night (photo by Dylan Nicholson). The streetcars were noticeably absent from the High Level from 1951 to 1979, but they are once again a charming destination for tourists and locals alike in the spring and summer seasons, especially during the Edmonton Fringe Festival in August. T...

e Since June 1913 the High Level Bridge has been connecting South Edmonton ( Old Strathcona ) with the downtown, spanning the North Saskatchewan River. It was erected the year after the former city of Strathcona amalgamated with Edmonton, in 1912, bridging the gap of the two municipalities. Designed by Phillips B. Motley (of the Canadian Pacific Railway), the High Level added the "Great Divide Waterfall" (by artist Peter Lewis ) in 1980. 10'6" (3.2m) above the pavement is a railway and streetcar track that still operates briefly in May (Victoria Day weekend) and October (Thanksgiving Day weekend). PHOTOGRAPH BY EMIL TIEDEMANN e