This week, the CPR Bridge Rehabilitation Project enters one of the most complex phases of the project: physically moving the 118-year-old bridge.
Scheduled for February 26 and 27, pending weather conditions, the bridge move is a big milestone for the rehabilitation project. After more than a year of work including truss sandblasting and painting, construction of new concrete foundations, new bridge bearing installation, and several stages of ground and bridge prep work, all the pieces are now in place for the refurbished bridge to be set onto its new support structure.
“Moving a truss bridge of this age and scale is not something you see every day,” said Kurtis Anketell, City of Red Deer Public Works Bridge Engineer. “By rehabilitating and moving the trusses to the new foundations, we are ensuring the bridge remains safe and reliable for years to come, while protecting an important trail network in our city.”
Specialized cranes and engineered lifting systems have been installed at the project site, and will be used to carefully shift the structure in two pieces – the north truss which extends from the north bank to the centre pier, and the correlating south truss which extends from the south bank to the centre pier.
The move has been supported by detailed engineering analysis, safety planning, and coordination among contractor and City project teams. The bridge move had to consider a 50-year-old water trunk, electrical transmission line and other existing infrastructure.
“This is one of the most technically demanding stages of the project,” said Anketell. “The operation has been carefully sequenced and designed, reflecting months of planning to ensure safety and precision throughout the process of lifting each 200 metric tonne bridge section.”
During moving day, residents may notice increased activity around the project site. Those interested in watching the work are encouraged to safely watch from the Gaetz Avenue bridge or tune in to the City’s live feed on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/thecityofreddeer .
The bridge is a key transportation and active mobility link within the city and has played an important role in Red Deer’s development for more than a century. Built in 1908, the CPR Bridge had exceeded its lifespan. Rehabilitating the bridge will provide at minimum an additional 75 years of service life and avoid the much higher cost of fully replacing the bridge, while also preserving a piece of Red Deer’s history.
The bridge's move marks a pivotal milestone in the project and brings crews closer to completing the remaining rehabilitation work. Following this work, the old foundations will be demolished, and the timber trestle, concrete deck, and new handrails will be assembled and installed. Final grading, hardscaping, and security-enhancing lighting work will commence in early spring.
More information about the CPR Bridge Rehabilitation Project is available at www.reddeer.ca/CPRbridge.