Darrell Noakes Writing and Photography: Portfolio

Historical Grand Trunk Bridge, St. Louis, SK

Construction of the historic St. Louis bridge began in 1912 as a railway bridge over the South Sasktchewan River for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (later becoming part of Canadian National), completed in April, 1915. In 1929 (according to provincial engineering report; Heritage Saskatchewan engineering report says 1928), a roadway "wing" was attached to each side of the bridge to accommodate automobile traffic travelling along Highway 2. Canadian National abandoned the rail line in 1983 and subsequently removed the track. The Saskatchewan provincial government announced in 2009 that the bridge would be replaced with a modern highway bridge crossing approximately 1.6 km east of the historic bridge, at an estimated cost of $30 million. Construction of the new bridge began in the spring of 2011, with the expectation that the bridge would be open to traffic by late 2012. However, delays in the delivery of steel girders stalled the project's estimated completion to the fall of 2013. The Saskatchewan department of highways states that the former bridge has reached the end of its lifespan as a result of corrosion and wear. Heritage Saskatchewan describes the original bridge as having historical and engineering significance.

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Filename: Historic St. Louis, Saskatchewan, Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Bridge, 1912-2013 2010-08-003-0013-F.jpg
Image Size: 4000x2667 / 4.7MB; Historic Housing Railway Saskatchewan St. Louis bridge heritage
Contained in galleries: Historic Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Bridge, St. Louis, Saskatchewan

Construction of the historic St. Louis bridge began in 1912 as a railway bridge over the South Sasktchewan River for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (later becoming part of Canadian National), completed in April, 1915. In 1929 (according to provincial engineering report; Heritage Saskatchewan engineering report says 1928), a roadway "wing" was attached to each side of the bridge to accommodate automobile traffic travelling along Highway 2. Canadian National abandoned the rail line in 1983 and subsequently removed the track. The Saskatchewan provincial government announced in 2009 that the bridge would be replaced with a modern highway bridge crossing approximately 1.6 km east of the historic bridge, at an estimated cost of $30 million. Construction of the new bridge began in the spring of 2011, with the expectation that the bridge would be open to traffic by late 2012. However, delays in the delivery of steel girders stalled the project's estimated completion to the fall of 2013. The Saskatchewan department of highways states that the former bridge has reached the end of its lifespan as a result of corrosion and wear. Heritage Saskatchewan describes the original bridge as having historical and engineering significance.