Edmonton's High Level Bridge will close fully in 2027 for urgent repairs

Record rainfall in June and July caused landslides and erosion on the river valley slopes beside the bridge in Edmonton, Alberta. The city says the damage forces urgent repairs next year.

The one-way southbound bridge, which carries 24,000 to 27,000 vehicles a day, will be fully closed to traffic during construction. The city is moving its planned rehabilitation up a year to do both jobs in one season.

The work includes

• Bearings
• Substructure components on land
• Deck surface
• Structural drainage
• Removing a column on the west sidewalk

The work covers the bridge's bearings, land-based substructure, deck surface and structural drainage. Pedestrian access will be kept when possible, and a column on the west sidewalk will be removed.

Next steps

1. 2027

   High Level Bridge closes for repairs and rehabilitation

2. 2028

   Low Level Bridge northbound lanes rehabilitated, moved from 2027

3. 2031 to 2039

   Planning, design and construction of a new bridge

At 113 years old, the bridge is past the typical life of 75 to 100 years, and a rehabilitation above $1 billion was ruled out, so the city plans to replace it within about a dozen years.