Borden Bridge

Borden Bridge

Old Borden Bridge on left and new bridge on right
Coordinates 52°22′23″N 107°09′00″W / 52.3730°N 107.1501°W / 52.3730; -107.1501Coordinates: 52°22′23″N 107°09′00″W / 52.3730°N 107.1501°W / 52.3730; -107.1501
Carries Pedestrians
Crosses North Saskatchewan River
Locale Corman Park No. 344 / Great Bend No. 405, near Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada
Official name Borden Bridge
Characteristics
Design Rainbow open arch bridge
Material Reinforced concrete
History
Designer C.J. Mackenzie
Opened November, 1936
Closed 1985

Borden Bridge is an abandoned arch bridge that spans across the North Saskatchewan River near Borden, Saskatchewan, Canada. The bridge used to carry vehicular traffic from Saskatchewan Highway 16, but is now open to foot traffic only.

History

The bridge [1] [2] was constructed as a "make-work" project during the Great Depression. It was built in 1936 by the contractor R.J. Arrand Construction Co. and was designed by Chalmers Jack (C. J.) MacKenzie (on leave from being Dean of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan). Plans from 1929 called for a steel segmental truss bridge, however these were abandoned for a more labour-intensive concrete bridge employing local farmers in the region.

A photo taken from on the deck of the disused Borden Bridge across the North Saskatchewan river.

In 1985 the bridge was closed to vehicles; a newer dual-span bridge built immediately north of the old bridge now carries the highway traffic. In 2007 the bridge was sold by the provincial government to Orville Middleton at a cost of $33,000; he indicated that his plans were to turn the bridge into an open-air dance hall.[3] The Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society expressed strong concern over this proposed use for the bridge.[4] As of 2012, the bridge still had not been converted because the rural municipality would not approve this use. Middleton stated that he would donate the bridge and surrounding land to the Canadian Wildlife Federation if the dance hall idea would not happen. He also expressed interest in decorating the bridge with some of the salvaged LED lights taken from the Traffic Bridge in Saskatoon.[5] Eight years after buying the bridge, Middleton put it up for sale in 2015 for $1 million, having never been granted approval for his dance hall.[6] As of 2016, the bridge remains unsold.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Herrington, Ross (March 1, 2008). "Statement of Heritage Significance; Borden (Ceepee) Bridge; R.M. of Great Bend No. 405" (PDF). Saskatchewan Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  2. ↑ "Borden Bridge Development more unlikely every day owner says". The StarPhoenix. Feb 3, 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  3. ↑ "Bridge buyer hopes to dance on landmark". The StarPhoenix. July 27, 2007. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  4. ↑ "Heritage group raps bridge scheme". The StarPhoenix. July 28, 2007. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  5. ↑ "Borden Bridge owner hopes to buy lights". The StarPhoenix. August 28, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  6. ↑ Bosker, Brent (2015-02-02). "Borden Bridge goes up for sale after owner fails to get approval for dance hall". News Talk 650 CKOM. Rawlco Communications. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  7. ↑ MacPherson, Alex (2016-02-03). "Borden Bridge development more unlikely every day, owner says". The StarPhoenix. Retrieved 2016-10-28.


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