Edmonton's Iconic Bridges Are Being Replaced
After 110+ years, the High- and Low-Level bridges have reached the end of their lives. Here's what's next.
Edmonton's two most recognizable bridges are officially getting replaced. The High-Level Bridge, at 113 years old, and the Low-Level northbound span, at 126, have simply run their course—too expensive to rehabilitate, and structurally past their prime.
City transportation officials confirmed this week that both bridges will be decommissioned and rebuilt, marking one of the largest infrastructure shifts the city has undertaken in decades. "They've run their course," said Natalie Lazurko, transportation planning and design at the City of Edmonton. "We're looking to get as many years as we can while we spend the next few years doing the planning and design."
The bridges carry daily commuter traffic across the North Saskatchewan River and are visual anchors of Edmonton's skyline. The High-Level, in particular, has been a symbol of the city since its opening in 1913. Both serve critical transit, vehicle, and pedestrian connections between downtown and the north side.
The city is now in the planning and design phase, which will take several years before actual construction begins. No timeline for replacement has been announced yet, and the project will require significant federal and provincial coordination given the bridges' role in the regional transportation network.
For Edmonton residents, the conversation has already shifted from whether the bridges need work to what their replacements will look like—and how traffic will flow while they're being rebuilt.