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The Battleford Bridge, also known as the Old Bridges, is an eight-span steel
After the Battleford Bridge was closed to through highway traffic in 2003, the town of Battleford bought it and hired Associated Engineering to monitor and maintain it. In 2013, Associated Engineering inspected the bridge and determined that concrete needed to be repaired and some of the re-enforced steel needed to be replaced. Vector Construction was hired at a cost of $100,000 to do the work. A 10-year management plan was initiated by Associated Engineering in 2018 for the financial planning of operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation of the bridge.
In July 2020, the north Battleford Bridge was closed due to structural concerns because of "unexpectedly high water levels from heavy rainfall in early July" that caused erosion. The south bridge, however, remained open. During the summer 2021, the north bridge was temporarily re-opened to pedestrians after some upgrades and improvements.
Rehabilitation of the north bridge began in 2022 following recommendations from Associated Engineering. The town of Battleford awarded Hipperson Construction of Regina the contract to repair the bridge. The total cost to repair the bridge was $3.6 million, which was split between the three levels of government. Work done to the north bridge included reshaping the eroded bridge abutment slope, increasing the length of the jump span, and new guardrails. Work on the south bridge included installing new guardrails and being upgraded to carry heavier loads. The bridge rehabilitation project was finished in June 2023.
truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements, typically straight, may be stressed from tension, compression, or ...
that crosses the North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows from the Canadian Rockies continental divide east to central Saskatchewan, where it joins with the South Saskatchewan River to make up the Saskatchewan River. Its water flows event ...
connecting North Battleford
North Battleford is a city in west-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the seventh largest city in the province and is directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the town of Battleford. Together, the two communities are known as "The B ...
and Battleford
Battleford ( 2021 population 4,400) is a town located across the North Saskatchewan River from the city of North Battleford, in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Battleford and North Battleford are collectively referred to as "The Battlefords". Although ...
in the Canadian province
Canada has ten provinces and three territories that are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Constitution of Canada, Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North Amer ...
of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...
. Built in 1907–08, the bridge consists of two separate bridges — one from Battleford to Finlayson Island
Finlayson Island is an island along the course of the North Saskatchewan River in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The island is situated between the town of Battleford on the south bank of the river and the city of North Battleford on th ...
in the middle of the river and the other from Finlayson Island to North Battleford. The south bridge is commonly called the South Truss Bridge while the north one is called the North Truss Bridge. It is the oldest highway bridge in Saskatchewan and the longest of its type. The bridge was along the route of Highway 16 (the Yellowhead Trail
Yellowhead Trail is a expressway segment of the Yellowhead Highway ( Highway 16) in northern Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It carries a significant amount of truck traffic to and from the industrial areas of north Edmonton and serves as a key ...
) and then Highway 16A until it was closed to through traffic in 2003. Highway 16 now crosses the river upstream at the Battlefords Bridge and 16A was decommissioned with the closing of Battleford Bridge. In 2003, the bridge was bought by the town of Battleford and is maintained by Associated Engineering.
No longer an important highway bridge, the Battleford Bridge now provides access to Finlayson Island. The South Trusd Bridge (from Battleford) has been rehabilitated to allow public motor vehicles access to the island. The North Truss Bridge, which was in worse condition, was rehabilitated to allow pedestrians and cyclists, but no cars, to the island. The north bridge is also called the Finlayson Island Pedestrian Bridge. Finlayson Island is a recreational island with hiking trails and picnic areas.
Description
Battleford Bridge consists of two separate steel parker though truss bridges. The South Truss Bridge, at long, is a three-span bridge that connectsBattleford
Battleford ( 2021 population 4,400) is a town located across the North Saskatchewan River from the city of North Battleford, in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Battleford and North Battleford are collectively referred to as "The Battlefords". Although ...
to Finlayson Island
Finlayson Island is an island along the course of the North Saskatchewan River in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The island is situated between the town of Battleford on the south bank of the river and the city of North Battleford on th ...
. The North Truss Bridge, at long, has five spans connecting it to Finlayson Island from North Battleford
North Battleford is a city in west-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the seventh largest city in the province and is directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the town of Battleford. Together, the two communities are known as "The B ...
. The main span, found on the north bridge, is long. The total length, not including the roadway on the island, is .
Rehabiltation
After the Battleford Bridge was closed to through highway traffic in 2003, the town of Battleford bought it and hired Associated Engineering to monitor and maintain it. In 2013, Associated Engineering inspected the bridge and determined that concrete needed to be repaired and some of the re-enforced steel needed to be replaced. Vector Construction was hired at a cost of $100,000 to do the work. A 10-year management plan was initiated by Associated Engineering in 2018 for the financial planning of operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation of the bridge.
In July 2020, the north Battleford Bridge was closed due to structural concerns because of "unexpectedly high water levels from heavy rainfall in early July" that caused erosion. The south bridge, however, remained open. During the summer 2021, the north bridge was temporarily re-opened to pedestrians after some upgrades and improvements.
Rehabilitation of the north bridge began in 2022 following recommendations from Associated Engineering. The town of Battleford awarded Hipperson Construction of Regina the contract to repair the bridge. The total cost to repair the bridge was $3.6 million, which was split between the three levels of government. Work done to the north bridge included reshaping the eroded bridge abutment slope, increasing the length of the jump span, and new guardrails. Work on the south bridge included installing new guardrails and being upgraded to carry heavier loads. The bridge rehabilitation project was finished in June 2023.
See also
*List of crossings of the North Saskatchewan River
This is a list of crossings of the North Saskatchewan River in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta from the river's confluence with the South Saskatchewan River upstream to its source.
Saskatchewan
Alberta
See also
*Li ...
* List of bridges in Canada
This is a list of bridges and viaducts in Canada, including those for pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
Historical and architectural interest bridges
There are only a few covered bridges left in Canada. In Quebec, despite over 1,200 existing ...
References
External links
* {{Authority control Bridges completed in 1908 Pedestrian bridges in Saskatchewan Road bridges in Saskatchewan Bridges over the North Saskatchewan River Parker truss bridges in Canada Steel bridges in Canada