Alberta may be home to the world’s tallest teepee, the world’s largest dinosaur, and the world’s largest kielbasa, but we’re also home to some structures as practical as they are large.
The High Level Bridge puts the bridge in Lethbridge. At 1.6 km long and 96 meters high, this impressive viaduct is both the longest and highest trestle bridge in the world.
A brief history lesson
indykb/Shutterstock
In 1908, the coal mining industry in Lethbridge was on a steady rise, and the population continued to grow. A new rail line access for mines was needed to keep up. Construction began in August of 1908 and wrapped up on June 22, 1909 — not too shabby for 115 years ago!
The bridge cost $1,334,525 to build. Accounting for inflation, that’d be $46,283,820 today. But clearly, it was money well spent, because the bridge is still used today.
Some have described it as a wonder of the world, and while that’s debatable, it’s certainly a wonder of Alberta!
Want to see it for yourself? The High Level Bridge crosses the Old Man River and is less than 10 minutes from Lethbridge’s downtown area. If you won’t be in Lethbridge any time soon, you can still explore the bridge through a 360-degree VR video.
Where: Scenic Drive S & 3rd Avenue S Lethbridge, Alberta