Dawson Bridge

The Dawson Bridge is being rehabilitated, with construction underway until spring 2026.

Project Update - December 2025

Due to the recent onset of exceedingly cold winter weather conditions, the team has required additional time to adjust the construction approach. The use of a barge to complete scaffolding work is no longer feasible under current conditions and the team is reviewing alternate construction approaches to complete the work.

Construction activity will resume in the new year, once revised plans are finalized. The rehabilitation is anticipated to be completed by spring 2026.

In 2026, temporary single-lane closures will be required on Dawson Bridge. These closures are expected to last approximately one month. Traffic control measures will be in place to manage traffic.

Pedestrian sidewalk access will be closed on one side of the bridge for the duration of the project to accommodate scaffolding work. Pedestrian access will be maintained on the opposite side of the bridge.

Construction has been scheduled to align with the Low Level Bridge Rehabilitation and the Wellington Bridge Replacement to minimize disruption where possible.

Project Background 

The Dawson Bridge is a five-span riveted steel through-truss structure that carries 2 lanes of traffic over the North Saskatchewan River between the Riverdale and Forest Heights neighbourhoods. The bridge provides an important link that connects the city center to neighbourhoods in the east.

The bridge was originally built in 1912 to carry electric trains to a coal mine on the east bank of the North Saskatchewan River, it was later converted to carry vehicles. The bridge also accommodates significant bike and pedestrian traffic. The bridge is listed in the Register of Historic Resources in Edmonton and Alberta Historic Resources Management Branch.

The Dawson Bridge Rehabilitation project aims to rehabilitate the bridge following recommendations made after the bridge condition was assessed in 2019.