The Mintlaw Bridge in Red Deer County is a historic railway steel trestle bridge spanning 2,112 feet across the Red Deer River, originally built in 1911-1912 for the Alberta Central Railway and later part of Canadian Pacific Railway. It is the second longest CPR steel trestle bridge in Alberta and the longest railway bridge in Central Alberta579.
Red Deer County purchased the bridge from Canadian Pacific Railway for $1 in 2009 to preserve it as a heritage site. Since then, the county has invested over $200,000 in rehabilitation work, including replacing rotting wooden supports and installing temporary steel piers to address structural sagging678. The bridge deck remains intact, but the rails have been removed for years, and the bridge has been disconnected from the banks on each side as a safety precaution78.
The county envisions the Mintlaw Bridge as a potential tourist attraction and part of a regional trail system for pedestrians and cyclists. However, the estimated cost to upgrade the bridge for safe public access ranges from $2.7 million to $3.2 million, with annual maintenance possibly reaching $250,000. Due to these high costs, Red Deer County is seeking outside investment and proposals from groups willing to partner on the project. Local residents have expressed mixed feelings, with some concerned about privacy and safety, while heritage and environmental groups support public access with proper safety measures78.
Currently, there are no immediate plans to fully restore or repurpose the bridge, and it remains closed to public access. The county continues to collect public feedback and awaits proposals to move forward. The bridge stands as an important historic landmark, with significant engineering and cultural value, but its future use depends on funding and community support78.
In summary, the Mintlaw Bridge is a critical heritage structure in Red Deer County requiring multi-million-dollar investment for rehabilitation and adaptation for public use. Preservation efforts have stabilized the bridge, but full restoration and public access remain long-term goals pending funding and partnerships578.
Citations:
- https://rdcounty.ca/bids.aspx?bidID=289
- https://www.rdcounty.ca/601/Construction-Projects
- https://www.tammypolley.ca/listings/mls/A2186338/rural-red-deer-county/rcmbe/35-28163-township-road-374
- https://www.rdcounty.ca/257/Bridge-Maintenance
- https://forthjunction.ca/news-express1209-mintlawtrestle.htm
- https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/reinforcing-history-at-mintlaw-bridge-video-7060339
- https://forthjunction.ca/news-heritage-acr-bridge.htm
- https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/local-news/county-council-looks-at-bridge-as-tourist-attraction-7073805
- https://danocan.com/2020/08/19/the-mintlaw-viaduct/
- https://www.grahambuilds.com/news/cpr-bridge-rehabilitation-in-red-deer-ab-awarded-to-graham/
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