Traffic Bridge, Steel truss bridge in Saskatoon, Canada
The Traffic Bridge is a steel truss bridge over the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, linking Victoria Avenue with 3rd Avenue South and Spadina Crescent. Two dark arched truss spans of crisscrossing diagonal and vertical beams rest on three rectangular concrete piers standing in the water, with a flat roadway deck along the bottom of the trusses.
The original structure completed in 1907 was Saskatchewan's first vehicle bridge and served the city for over a century before safety concerns forced its closure in 2010. Its 2018 replacement incorporates updated engineering while respecting the visual character of the original design.
The name Traffic Bridge distinguished it from the QLLS/CN railway bridge just upstream; it became a proper noun, and the city formally adopted it on January 22, 2007. Locals also called the original the Victoria Bridge, Black Bridge or Iron Bridge. A 2-metre pedestrian walkway was added on the upstream side in 1908.
The bridge remains open year-round for all modes of transportation and connects major residential areas with the downtown core. Winter conditions can include snow and ice, so travelers should plan for variable weather when crossing.
The bridge's name was only made official on January 22, 2007, when Saskatoon City Council voted to adopt "Traffic Bridge" on the recommendation of the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee, nearly a century after the first span opened. Residents had long called it Victoria Bridge, Black Bridge or Iron Bridge.
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