The High Level Bridge
Monday, 20th March 2006 by Alex Turnbull
This is the Lethbridge Viaduct, better known as the High Level Bridge in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Crossing the Oldman River valley this steel trestle bridge is up to 96 metres (314 ft) high and 1,624 metres (5,327 feet) long, making it the longest railway bridge in Canada.
Although actually, it seems that some people reckon the Lethbridge Viaduct might be "the longest railroad trestle bridge in the world" or perhaps even "the world's longest and highest steel railroad bridge". I couldn't verify any of this, but its definitely got a very cool shadow 😉
There's more about the Lethbridge Viaduct at Wikipedia where they have an interesting photo of the bridge being built, and they link to a cool ground level photo too.
Thanks to Jackson, John Fleming and Rob Carlson.
About the author
Alex has decided that his title will be Senior Vice President of Stuff.
That’s a great optical illusion. It looks like the track as a steep climb at either end, but from the ground level shots you can see it’s completely level. It’s because the ground on which the shadow is cast falls away quite uniformly.
Not really a ground level shot – looks like it’s taken from fairly near the top. http://static.flickr.com/24/48639718_c91e055623_b.jpg gives a better impression with the trees on the valley floor for comparison.
What is most amazing about the bridge is that the city is at the level of the bridge deck, and you really don’t know the bridge or the valley are there until you reach the edge of the city.
Wow… took a while to get this posted!
I walked across the bridge last year – suffice to say, it most certainly is still in use, and I don’t recommend duplicating my little excursion.
Richard- compared with the satellite photo it sure as heck is a ground level shot. So, I think that’s what they mean. Anyways, the photographer was standing on the ground, even though the ground he chose to stand on was near the top.
But, berating aside, I like your photo too.
“She wrote me a letter as big as a phonebook I’ve never been big on mail I sent her a postcard from somewhere near Lethbridge And wondered if it still went by rail”
The High Level Bridge is in the middle of the city. If you go to the edge of the city as Richard suggests, you will have gone much too far.
Beautiful bridge! Probably with a lot history!!!
Home sweet home !! I used to live there, used to go across the valley each day, could see the bridge from my window and hear the trains at night. Thanks to the one who posted the photo.