Edmonton And Around

Cloverdale Bridge - "No LRT"

A bit of controversay in the River City this week! The steel framed and wooden boardwalk Cloverdale bridge is coming down this summer to make way for the new Tawatinaw carrying the Light Rail Transit (LRT) trains from downtown to the city's southeast. I'm sure I have a few photos of this bridge, but took a few more tonight. A small sign protesting the LRT is hanging on the side of the bridge in this photo. 

The Cloverdale bridge is conviniently located to cross from the city's northern to southern cycling trails and access the Mill Creek trails on the south side and has a wide pathway for pedestrians and cyclists to cross together safely. Standing near the centre of the bridge also offers one of the most spectacular views of downtown at sunrise. The bridge must have been built in the early 1970s when the Capital Region River Valley trail system was developed. The rickety boards give it some character too! 

It is disappointing that the Cloverdale bridge cannot operate while the Tawatinaw is being constructed. It means three years of disruption on the trail system and crossing points shift a kilometre west to the Low Level (which is not a very wide pedestrian-cycling pathway) or five-ish kilometres east to the Dawson. The new bridge looks quite interesting with high towers and cables supporting the deck. Once completed the LRT trains will cross the river and a portion of the parkland in the river valley.

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