The summer of 2026 brought record rainfall to Edmonton that damaged homes and other infrastructure — and is also forcing the closure of one of the city’s largest bridges.
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that → bring → bridges
The City of Edmonton said the High Level Bridge must undergo urgent repairs in 2027 after sustaining damage caused by the severe storms in June and July.
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Bridge → say → June
Landslides and erosion from the heavy rainfall affected the river valley slopes next to the bridge.
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Landslides → affect → bridge
Back in June, one of the bridge’s sidewalks was closed for that very reason.
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one → close → reason
To minimize disruptions, the city said it will also complete the High Level’s planned rehabilitation at the same time — one year earlier than planned.
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it → minimize → time
Completing both projects at the same time will allow the work to be done in one season instead of two.
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work → complete → season
The one-way southbound bridge, which sees 24,000 to 27,000 vehicles per day, will be fully closed to traffic during next year’s construction.
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which → see → construction
“We recognize that Edmontonians rely on our major bridges,” said Sara Nichols, deputy city manager of Infrastructure Services.
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Nichols → recognize → Services
“By combining the urgent repairs with the planned rehabilitation of the High Level Bridge, we will reduce the total duration and number of closures overall.”
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we → combine → closures
The steel structure has been an iconic part of Edmonton’s skyline since it was built in the early 1900s but a closer look at rusting girders and beams reveals their aging state.
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look → build → state
At 113 years old, the High Level Bridge has surpassed the typical bridge life expectancy of 75 to 100 years and is living on borrowed time.
Rehabilitation work every few decades have kept the structure in service, but continuing to do that will eventually end up costing more than replacement.
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continuing → surpass → replacement
Earlier this year, the city said a more fulsome rehabilitation would exceed $1 billion — which the city said was not feasible or fiscally responsible — so the bridge needs to be replaced in the next dozen or so years.
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bridge → say → years
The High Level Bridge’s rehabilitation next year will ensure it continues to be safe and operational while long-term planning for its eventual replacement moves forward, the city said on Friday.
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city → ensure → Friday
Work will include repairs to bridge components such as bearings, substructure components on land, the deck surface and structural drainage.
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Work → include → land
A column in the middle of the west sidewalk will also be removed to improve safety and the experience for people walking and cycling across the bridge.
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column → remove → bridge
Pedestrian access will be maintained when possible, with detours, alternative routes and access changes shared in advance.
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detours → maintain → advance
- 2 seriously hurt, 11 others injured in B.C. crash that shut down Highway 99
- Multi-vehicle crash including double-decker bus closes Highway 99 in Delta
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crash → hurt → Delta
- Cause of fiery Calgary bus crash that killed 3 passengers, injured 16 under investigation
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that → kill → investigation
Young father killed when motorcycle crashes into Edmonton bus shelter
To accommodate the updated timeline and reduce traffic gridlock on the other bridges in and out of downtown, planned rehabilitation of the northbound Low Level Bridge lanes has been moved from 2027 to 2028.
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rehabilitation → kill → 2028
Planning, design and construction of a new bridge are slated for 2031 to 2039.
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Planning → slat → 2039
The High Level Bridge is one of the few bridges ever constructed in Edmonton accommodate four modes of transportation: train, streetcar, automobile and pedestrian.
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one → construct → transportation
It was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway between 1910 and 1913.
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It → build → 1910
It literally bridged the divide between two communities: its construction was a major factor in the amalgamation of the City of Strathcona and the City of Edmonton on Feb. 1, 1912.
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construction → bridge → Feb.
The character-defining elements of the bridge include the truss systems, tall concrete piers, streetcar tracks on top, the bridge superstructure and substructure, the metal handrails and the black paint colour.
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elements → define → top
The High Level was designated a municipal historic resource in 1995, so in order to decommission it, city council will need to repeal that historical designation.
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council → designate → designation
This has only been done three times since the city’s heritage conservation program was created in 1982.
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program → do → 1982
The Aporia
