Walterdale Bridge
The Walterdale Bridge is a landmark transportation project that replaced a nearly 100-year-old crossing with a modern bridge designed to improve safety, increase capacity, and better serve Edmonton's growing transportation needs. As a key gateway into downtown, the new bridge enhances mobility for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists while creating an iconic new feature on the city's skyline.
ACCIONA, as part of the ACCIONA/Pacer Joint Venture, was responsible for the design and construction of the new Walterdale Bridge, an innovative steel arch structure spanning the North Saskatchewan River. The project replaced the aging bridge, which had reached the end of its service life and was no longer capable of accommodating modern traffic demands or legal truck loads. The new crossing also included improved pedestrian and cycling facilities, providing safer and more accessible connections between surrounding communities.
Constructing the bridge required innovative engineering solutions to meet both structural and environmental objectives. The 230-metre span features a distinctive inward-sloping double steel arch supporting a 22.4-metre-wide bridge deck carrying three traffic lanes, while dedicated pedestrian and shared-use pathways are separated from vehicle traffic. By eliminating the need for piers within the river, the bridge's arch design improves river flow and allows ice to move more freely, reducing environmental impacts and long-term maintenance requirements.
The Walterdale Bridge provides Edmonton with a safer, more reliable transportation link that strengthens mobility for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists while supporting the city's continued growth. By improving traffic flow, reducing congestion, enhancing connections between neighbourhoods, and eliminating the need for in-river piers, the bridge combines innovative engineering with environmental stewardship to create a resilient and iconic crossing that will serve the community for decades to come.
GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION
- Client: City of Edmonton
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
- Contract Type: Traditional Bid Build
- Project Team: ACCIONA/Pacer Joint Venture – ACCIONA and Pacer (MasTec)
- Project Status: Completed in 2016
PROJECT SCOPE
- 230 m steel arch bridge spanning the North Saskatchewan River
- 22.4 m wide bridge deck carrying three northbound traffic lanes
- Dedicated pedestrian walkway and shared-use pathway
- Double inward-sloping steel arch eliminating the need for in-river piers
- Design and construction of the replacement bridge and associated approaches
- Arch rising 43 m above the deck and 55 m above the river
INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY
The Walterdale Bridge combines innovative structural engineering with thoughtful environmental design. Its distinctive double steel arch eliminated the need for in-river piers, reducing impacts on the North Saskatchewan River while allowing natural water flow and seasonal ice movement to continue unimpeded.
The project also supports sustainable urban mobility by incorporating dedicated facilities for pedestrians and cyclists alongside improved vehicle capacity. Replacing aging infrastructure with a modern bridge designed to current engineering standards enhances safety, improves reliability, and supports Edmonton's long-term transportation network.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
The Walterdale Bridge has received industry recognition for its innovative design, engineering excellence, and contribution to Edmonton's transportation network.
- Award of Excellence – Transportation Infrastructure (Transportation Structures), Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA) Showcase Awards
- Alberta Steel Design Award of Excellence - Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC), recognizing the bridge's innovative structural steel design and construction
Today, the Walterdale Bridge is widely recognized as one of Edmonton's most distinctive civic landmarks, combining engineering innovation with an iconic architectural form that has become a defining feature of the city's skyline.