Cap-Rouge trestle

The Cap-Rouge trestle is a railway bridge made of steel that spans 1016 meters across the Rivière du Cap Rouge valley. The structure rises about 52 meters above the valley floor and carries trains on a series of steel supports.

The trestle was built in 1908 by the Dominion Bridge Company as part of the National Transcontinental Railway. It served as a key connection that linked this railway line to the nearby Quebec Bridge.

The structure shows early engineering methods from the 1900s and shapes how people see this valley today. It represents an important moment when railways changed the region.

Today freight trains cross the bridge at reduced speeds and monitoring systems are in place for safety. Visitors can view the structure from below in the valley or from the riverbanks.

The construction required special foundations because the ground near the riverbanks was unstable, so certain supports sit on caissons. This unusual building method shows how engineers handled difficult ground conditions at that time.

Location: Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge

Inception: 1908

Height: 52 m

Length: 1,016 m

Made from material: steel

GPS coordinates: 46.74880,-71.34850

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:42