Dunvegan Suspension Bridge Explained

Other Name:Dunvegan Bridge
Carries:Alberta Highway 2
Crosses:Peace River
Locale:Dunvegan, Alberta, Canada
Maint:Alberta Transportation
Designer:V. E. Mcune
Design:Three-span suspension bridge
Material:Steel
Mainspan:275.8m (904.9feet)
Length:723.9m (2,375feet)
Width:8.2m (26.9feet)
Clearance:10.5m (34.4feet)[1]
Traffic:2,520 (2023)[2]
Complete:1960
Open:1960
Coordinates:55.921°N -118.6048°W

Dunvegan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the Peace River as part of Alberta Highway 2 between the Municipal District of Fairview No. 136 and Saddle Hills County next to the hamlet of Dunvegan. It is approximately 87km (54miles) from the British Columbia border with Fairview to the north and Spirit River to the south. It is the largest and longest suspension bridge in Alberta.[3]

Design

The bridge is made of 4050short ton of steel and 26yd3 of concrete.[4] The design features three spans of cable wire and two towers over two lanes of Alberta Highway 2 with a steel railing.[5] The bridge deck has two yellow-painted steel trusses on either side of the roadway. The bridge is supported by two pillars connected to the towers on either side and two concrete abutments.

History

Prior to the bridge being built, Dunvegan was served by a government installed ferry across the Peace River.[6] The bridge itself was built and opened in 1960. After the opening, the Dunvegan Crossing ferry was moved down to La Crete and served as the Tompkins ferry (still in operation) from 1961 to 1987. This ferry can be seen at the La Crete Mennonite Heritage Village.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vertical Bridge Clearance List . Transportation Alberta . Alberta Government . 5 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Traffic Data Mapping . transportation.alberta.ca . July 13, 2024.
  3. Web site: HISTORIC DUNVEGAN PROVINCIAL PARK . Mighty Peace Tourism . 5 April 2024.
  4. Web site: Dunvegan Bridge . Structurae . 5 April 2024.
  5. Web site: Dunvegan Suspension Bridge . Historic Bridges . 5 April 2024.
  6. Web site: 16-013 Dunvegan . South Peace Historical Society . 5 April 2024.
  7. Web site: Dunvegan Provincial Park . Discover the Peace Country . 5 April 2024.