Lethbridge Viaduct
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| High Level Bridge | |
 Viaduct and Oldman River |
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| Official name | Lethbridge Viaduct |
|---|---|
| Carries | Railway |
| Crosses | Oldman River |
| Locale | Lethbridge |
| Maintained by | Canadian Pacific Railway |
| Total length | 1,624 m |
| Width | 32.6 m |
| Height | 95.7 m |
| Opening date | August 1909 |
| Coordinates | |
The Lethbridge Viaduct, commonly known as the High Level Bridge, was constructed between 1907–1909 at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada at a cost of $1,334,525.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
This massive steel trestle over the Oldman River was designed by the Canadian Pacific Railway's bridge department in Montreal. The field work was directed by CPR's Assistant Chief Engineer J. E. Schwitzer. The steel work was manufactured by the Canadian Bridge Company of Walkerville, Ontario. A 100 man gang worked on the erection of the steel. Although there were some initial problems with settlement, the bridge has proved to be an enduring engineering work and is still in use today.
This bridge is one of the largest railway structures in Canada. It was built as part of a major diversion of the Crowsnest Pass route between Lethbridge and Fort Macleod. The river crossing was previously over a wooden trestle measuring 894 m (2,933 feet) long and 20 m (65 feet) high; an impressive structure in its own right.
[edit] History
The old approach was over steep grades that hampered operations. In addition, extensive cuts and many other bridges were needed to cross various creeks and coulees. Past the St Mary's River crossing, several large cuts had been required. Large bridges were also required, including a 275-m (900-foot) trestle with a 61-m (200-foot) span west of the St. Mary River, a 183-m (600-foot) trestle at Eight-Mile Coulee and another of 274-m (900 feet) in length near Eight-Mile Coulee. At Sixteen-Mile Coulee there was a 244-m (800-foot) trestle, 40.5 m (133 feet) high with a 61-m (200-foot) truss span over the creek. The trestles on the original line out of Lethbridge totalled 4.5 km (2.8 miles).
Although the original route accomplished its purpose in allowing the CPR to rapidly complete the railway, it turned out to be expensive to operate. The original bridges were designed to last only about 10 years. The CPR decided, in 1905 to construct a completely new route on a better gradient to bypass the original line. The new line was built to the north of the Oldman River. It required two bridges, one just west of Lethbridge—the High Level Bridge—over the Oldman River and another large bridge over the Oldman River again west of Monarch. This route eliminated many curves and reduced the grade from 1.2 percent to only 0.4 percent. It also saved 8.5 km (5.26 miles) of track.
Construction began in the summer of 1907. Clearing and grading the site, construction of piers, and placement of the footings progressed while the steelwork was being prefabricated. Raising the steelwork began in mid-August 1908. Once the steelwork reached track level at the Lethbridge end, it was possible to begin using a huge travelling crane, pictured above, called an "erection traveller". It was used to lower the steel beams and girders into place. The last girder was placed in June 1909 and riveting was completed in August 1909. Transport of the steel to the site required 645 railway cars while another 40 were needed to bring in equipment.
[edit] Specifications
- Length: 1,623.86 m (5,327.625 feet)
- Height: 95.7 m (314 feet) above river bed
- Materials: 12,400 tons of steel
- Deck spans and lengths:
- 44 plate girder spans each of 20.4 m (67 feet, 1 inch)
- 22 plate girder spans each of 30.15 m (98 feet, 10 inches)
- one riveted lattice-truss of 32.6 m (107 feet)
- Rigid braced steel towers: total of 33
A second bridge over the Oldman River–Whoop-up Drive Bridge—is 576 m (1,890 ft) long and 45.7 m (150 ft) high.
