Prince George CNR Bridge, Railway bridge over Fraser River in Prince George, Canada
The Prince George CNR Bridge is a steel truss bridge carrying the railway over the Fraser River. Its central span is a bascule bridge designed by Joseph Strauss, later engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the structure is the longest railroad bridge in British Columbia. Roadways on each side carried cars and pedestrians from 1915 to 1987.
The structure was completed in 1914 as part of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway expansion into northern British Columbia. Its construction allowed the first permanent railway connection to be established across this river section in the region.
The bridge's arrival led to the founding of the City of Prince George near the fur trading post of Fort George. Its name comes from the Canadian National Railway, which took over the line from the Grand Trunk Pacific. The structure is a truss bridge with a central bascule span.
The site is best viewed from Highway 16, which crosses or runs near the bridge. Visitors can see the full extent of the structure from the road or from vantage points along the riverbank.
The central span is a bascule bridge designed by Joseph Strauss, who later engineered the Golden Gate Bridge; it could open for river shipping until the lift span fell out of use in 1954. Look for the movable section within the truss.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,739 contributors worldwide.