List of bridges in Calgary explained

The City of Calgary has a number of bridges, spanning the two main rivers that cross the city, Bow River and Elbow River, as well as some other geographical and physical features.

The first building in Calgary was erected in 1872 by Alexis Cardinal, at the request of Fr Constantine Scollen, an Oblate missionary priest, at the confluence of the two rivers.

Crossings

Bow River (west of downtown)

The Bow River enters the city from west, winds around downtown, then runs south. From west to south, the following structures cross the river.

BridgeCarriesLengthBuiltwidth=150pxCoordinatesImageRemarks
Bearspaw DamUtility1954Dam on Calgary's west limits, east of Bearspaw; built in 1954,[1] owned and maintained by TransAlta
Stoney Trail Bow River BridgesStoney Trail476 m 1997/2023Between Trans Canada Highway and Tuscany; The northbound bridges lower pedestrian deck connects to the south and north Bow River pathways
85 St NW Bridge85 Street NWBetween Bowness and Scenic Acres
Bowness Pedestrian BridgePathwayConnects Bow River pathways between Bowmont Park Natural Area and Bowness
Bowness Railway BridgeCanadian Pacific Railway
John Hextall BridgePedestrian/Cycle1910[2] Between Bowness and Montgomery; parallels Shouldice Bridge and is used for pedestrian and bicycle traffic only; originally carried a streetcar.
Shouldice BridgeBowness Road NWBetween Bowness, Shouldice Park and Montgomery
TCH Bridge16 Avenue NWBetween Sarcee Trail and Montgomery
Harry Boothman BridgePedestrianPedestrian alley in Edworthy Park, between the Bow River pathways; named for Harry Boothman. superintendent and director of Calgary Parks from 1958 to 1976
Crowchild Trail BridgeCrowchild TrailBetween Shaganappi and Kensington, lower pedestrian deck connects pathways on each side of the river
Mewata Bridge14 Street W1954Between Kensington and Sunalta

Bow River (downtown)

BridgeCarriesLengthBuiltwidth=150pxCoordinatesImageRemarks
Louise bridge10 Street SW172 m1921Connects Downtown West End with Memorial Drive and Kensington; named after Louise Cushing, daughter of William Henry Cushing, Calgary mayor from 1900 to 1901
Sunnyside C-Train BridgeC-Train Route 201 and pedestrian (lower deck)1987Between Sunnyside and 8 Street SW stations; lower deck is a pedestrian walkway
Peace BridgePedestrian and bicycle125 m2012between Downtown and Sunnyside
Prince's Island CausewayPedestrian and service roadConnects Eau Claire Park pathway with west part of Prince's Island Park, provides access to Enmax stage
Prince's Island BridgePedestrianConnects Prince's Island Park with Sunnyside, also crosses Memorial Drive
Jaipur BridgePedestrianConnects Prince's Island Park with Eau Claire
Prince's Island Bridge East EndPedestrian pathwayConnects eastern Prince's Island Park with Eau Claire and Chinatown
Centre Street BridgeCentre Street178 m1916Connects Downtown Calgary to Crescent Heights; lower deck connects Chinatown to Memorial Drive
4th Avenue Flyover4th Avenue SE1972Connects Memorial Drive to Downtown Calgary
5th Avenue Flyover5th Avenue SEConnects Downtown Calgary to Memorial Drive, Crescent Heights and Bridgeland.
Reconciliation BridgeEdmonton Trail1910Connects Bridgeland to Downtown Calgary; south terminus of Edmonton Trail. Formerly called the Langevin Bridge (1910-2017), named for Sir Hector Langevin[3]
C-Train SE/Bridgeland BridgeC-Train Route 2021985Between 3 Street SE and Bridgeland/Memorial stations
George C. King Bridge (formerly St. Patrick's Island Bridge)Bow River pathways2014Connects Downtown East Village, Fort Calgary and Bow River pathways with St Patrick Island and Calgary Zoo; new project to cross to Bridgeland[4]
Baines BridgeZoo RoadConnects Calgary Zoo and Bridgeland
Zoo Bridge (W)Calgary Zoo pathwayConnects main Calgary Zoo exhibits with the Prehistoric Park
Zoo Bridge (E)Calgary Zoo pathwayConnects main Calgary Zoo exhibits with the Canadian Wilds
St. Georges Zoo Bridge 12 Street SEConnects Calgary Zoo with Inglewood
Canadian Pacific Bridge (Nose Creek)Canadian Pacific RailwayRailroad bridge

Bow River (south of downtown)

BridgeCarriesLengthBuiltwidth=150pxCoordinatesImageRemarks
Cushing BridgeBlackfoot Trail SE / 17 Avenue SEConnects Inglewood with Forest Lawn; named after William Henry Cushing, Calgary mayor from 1900 to 1901[5]
CPR Bonnybrook BridgeCanadian Pacific RailwayPony truss railroad bridge, connects three main tracks (P-1 mainline, P-2 lead and Old Ogden lead) with CPR Alyth Yard. The bridge is partially collapsed after flooding of Bow River in June 2013.[6] Steel bridge added in 1971.and Old Ogden lead,
CNR Bow River BridgeCanadian National RailwayThrough truss bridge has a single track.
Bonnybrook BridgeOgden Road SEVehicular bridge carries Ogden Road and connects Alyth with Foothills Industrial Park
Calf Robe BridgeDeerfoot TrailConnects Deerfoot trail from Glenmore Trail to Peigan Road; named after Ben Calf Robe, a Siksika chief
Canadian National BridgeCN RailwayConnects Canadian Pacific Railway to Canadian National Railway
Graves BridgesGlenmore TrailConnects Alyth to Riverbend and Ogden, leads to Highway 8 east; twinned in 2009[7]
Eric Harvie BridgePedestrianConnects Southland Drive and Acadia to Riverbend
Lafarge BridgeRoadConnects Lafarge cement plant to Douglasglen. Damaged in 2005 flood, subsequently removed.
Ivor Strong BridgeDeerfoot TrailConnects Maple Ridge to Douglasdale at the Anderson Road alignment; named after John Ivor Strong, Chief Commissioner for the City of Calgary from 1965 to 1971
Douglasdale Park Pedestrian BridgePedestrianConnects Douglasdale Park to Queensland
McKenzie Pedestrian BridgePedestrianConnects Deer Ridge with McKenzie Lake
Marquis de Lorne BridgesStoney Trail2009/2023[8] Connects Stoney Trail from Sundance and Chaparral across Fish Creek Provincial Park to McKenzie Lake and Cranston
Chapparal Pedestrian BridgePedestrian2023Connects Chapparal to Cranston
Dunbow BridgesDeerfoot TrailConnects Deerfoot Trail to Macleod Trail south of Calgary, between Cranston/Seton and Heritage Pointe

Elbow River

The Elbow River enters the city in the southwest, then turns north and merges into the Bow River immediately east of downtown. From west to north, the following structures cross the river.

BridgeCarriesLengthBuiltwidth=150pxCoordinatesImageRemarks
Twin BridgesHighway 8Highway 8 named Stoney Trail east of this point
Weaselhead Road BridgeWeasel Head RoadPrivate bridge for road traffic, inside the limits of the Tsuut'ina Nation reserve
Tsuu'tina Trail BridgesTsuu'tina TrailBridges going north and southbound on Tsuu'tina Trail over the Elbow
Barry Erskine BridgePedestrianBridge within the Weaslehead Natural Area
Glenmore Trail CausewayGlenmore TrailCrosses the Glenmore Reservoir
Glenmore DamPedestrian, maintenance road1933Dam, created Glenmore Reservoir, allows pedestrian access and maintenance vehicles (no public vehicle access) along Glenmore Bridge Rd.
Sandy Beach BridgePedestrian1959[9] Connects River Park (in Altadore) and Riverdale Park (in Britannia)
Elbow Park Britannia Pedestrian BridgePedestrianConnects Elbow River bike and pathway; between Elbow Park and Britannia
Elbow Drive BridgeElbow DriveConnects the neighbourhoods of Elbow Park and Britannia
Elbow Park Rideau Park Pedestrian BridgePedestrianConnects Elbow River bike and pathway; between Elbow Park and Rideau Park
4 St SW Bridge4 Street SWConnects the neighbourhoods of Mission and Roxboro
Scollen Bridge25 Avenue SWConnects the neighbourhoods of Mission and Erlton
21 Ave SW MNP Pedestrian BridgePedestrianBetween 21 Ave SW and the MNP Community & Sport Centre grounds
19 Ave SW MNP Pedestrian BridgePedestrianBetween 19 Ave SW (behind St. Mary's Cathedral and the MNP Community & Sport Centre grounds
Pattison BridgeMacleod Trail SouthBetween Mission and MNP Community & Sport Centre, named for John George Pattison, Victoria Cross recipient of the 50th Battalion, CEF.[10]
Victoria BridgeMacleod Trail NorthBetween Mission and MNP Community & Sport Centre
Macleod Train BridgeC-TrainBetween Mission and MNP Community & Sport Centre
Stampede Trail BridgeStampede Trail SEProvides entry into the Calgary Stampede grounds and access to the Stampede Grandstand
Stampede Ground Bridgemaintenance roadProvides access Calgary Stampede ground buildings
Stampede Ground Bridgemaintenance roadProvides access Calgary Stampede ground buildings
Saddledome Trail BridgePedestrianProvides entry into the Calgary Stampede grounds and access to the Scotiabank Saddledome
Agriculture Trail BridgeAgriculture Trail SEService road from Calgary Stampede grounds
Macdonald Avenue BridgeMacdonald Avenue SE1911Connects the neighbourhoods of Victoria Park and Ramsay
Canadian Pacific Rail Bridge (Inglewood)Canadian Pacific RailwayConnects the Canadian Pacific Railway downtown yard with the CPR Alyth Yard
9 Ave SE (Inglewood) Bridge9 Avenue SE2022Original bridge was built in 1909 and demolished in 2019 to make room for its replacement (pictured). The Bridge provides access between Downtown East Village and Inglewood

Fish Creek

Fish Creek flows from west to east in the south part of the city, through the Fish Creek Provincial Park. It merges into the Bow River in the southeast quadrant of the city.

BridgeCarriesLengthBuiltwidth=150pxCoordinatesImageRemarks
37 St SW Bridge37 St SW
Fish Creek Pedestrian Bridge no. 1Pathway Connects pathways in the Fish Creek Provincial Park
Fish Creek Pedestrian Bridge no. 2Pathway Connects pathways in the Fish Creek Provincial Park
Fish Creek Pedestrian Bridge no. 3Pathway Connects pathways in the Fish Creek Provincial Park
Fish Creek Pedestrian Bridge no. 4Pathway Connects pathways in the Fish Creek Provincial Park
Fish Creek Pedestrian Bridge no. 5Pathway Connects pathways in the Fish Creek Provincial Park
Fish Creek Pedestrian Bridge no. 6Pathway Connects pathways in the Fish Creek Provincial Park
Fish Creek Pedestrian Bridge no. 7Pathway Connects pathways in the Fish Creek Provincial Park
CPR Bridge (Fish Creek)Canadian Pacific RailwayAlso carriers C-Train tracks
Macleod Trail BridgeMacleod TrailConnects the neighbourhoods of Canyon Meadows and Lake Bonavista to Shawnee Slopes and Midnapore
Bow Bottom BridgeBow Bottom Trail SWConnects the neighbourhoods of Deer Run and Parkland to Sikome Lake and Fish Creek Provincial Park

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bearspaw. TransAlta Utilities. TransAlta. 2009-09-19.
  2. News: Fletcher. Robson. Four Calgary bridges recognized for their historical significance. December 16, 2016. Calgary Metro. Metro News. January 27, 2014.
  3. Web site: Langevin bridges . Glenbow Museum . Glenbow Museum . 2009-12-24 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090105183247/http://www.glenbow.org/exhibitions/online/historicCalgary/oldnewbrg.html . 2009-01-05 .
  4. News: Calgary-Paris partners to build St. Patrick's bridge. CBC. 2010-04-08 . CBC News . 2010-03-22.
  5. Web site: Hon. William Henry Cushing. 2009-09-07.
  6. Web site: Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi railing after Bonnybrook train bridge collapses over Bow River. Calgary Sun. Aug 22, 2020.
  7. Web site: Graves Bridge Twinning. City of Calgary. 2009-09-07.
  8. Web site: Marquis of Lorne Trail S.E. / Bow River Bridge Project. City of Calgary. 2009-09-07. 2008-07-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20090819104209/http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_780_237_0_43/http;/content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Transportation+Infrastructure/Construction+Projects/Bridges/Marquis+of+Lorne+Trail+SE+Bow+River+Bridge+Project.htm. 2009-08-19. dead.
  9. Web site: City of Calgary Parks Department Annual Report 1959. calgary.ca. 2022-06-11.
  10. http://www.calgarysun.com/news/memorial/2009/07/22/10222991.html?cid=MARK-MSUN9-SMedia_Calgarysun-EN20090113NB1 "Soldier led Vimy Charge"