Quesnell Bridge
Quesnell Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Quesnell Bridge looking south | |
| Coordinates | 53°30′24″N 113°34′00.5″W / 53.50667°N 113.566806°W |
| Carries | Motor vehicles, pedestrians |
| Crosses | North Saskatchewan River |
| Locale | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Maintained by | City of Edmonton |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 319.8 m (1,049 ft)[1] |
| History | |
| Opened | November 19, 1968[2] |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 123,012 (2023)[3] |
| Location | |
 | |
The Quesnell Bridge is a girder bridge that spans the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is part of Edmonton's southern freeway, Whitemud Drive. An average of 120,000 cars pass over the bridge every day.[4] The bridge connects the communities of Brookside and Brander Gardens on the south end to Quesnell Heights and Laurier Heights on the north end.
Located directly to the southeast of the bridge's southern head is the Talus Dome, a public sculpture comprising roughly 1000 silver balls that was erected in 2011 at the cost of $600,000.[5]
History
[edit]In 1950, Philip Louis Pratley, who was serving as Edmonton's cross-river structure consultant, recommended five new bridges to be built in the city including one at 142 Street.[6] On December 12, 1966, city council approved the Quesnell bridge plan at a cost of $8.8 million.[7] Construction on the bridge began in June 1967 with a tentative opening on October 31, 1968.[7] However, it was delayed due to a wet weather in the summer[8] before the bridge officially opened on November 19, 1968.[2] It was originally designed to carry five-lanes of traffic with a 4.5 metre wide sidewalk on the east side for pedestrian and bridle path usage.[9]
In 2008, the city announced a project to widen the bridge, Whitemud Drive, and Fox Drive, adding capacity projected to be sufficient until 2058.[10] It was completed in September 2011.[11] In August 2010 during excavation for a sewer-pipeline line several fossils were unearthed about 27 m (89 ft) below ground level. They were believed to be fossils from two extinct genera, Edmontosaurus and Albertosaurus.[12][13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Quesnell Bridge at Structurae
- ^ a b Campbell, Tom (November 20, 1968). "Quesnell span opens". Edmonton Journal. p. 63.
- ^ "AAWDT". Google Docs. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ "Major road closures start Sunday". CBC News. February 27, 2009. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Staples, David (2011-11-15). "Meet the Talus Dome: the most expensive, the most exposed and the best public sculpture in the history of Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ^ "Expert Recommends City Build Five More Bridges". Edmonton Journal. April 10, 1950. p. 1, 14.
- ^ a b "Quesnell Bridge Plan Approved". Edmonton Journal. December 13, 1966. p. 12.
- ^ "Bridge opening faces delay". Edmonton Journal. October 5, 1968. p. 37.
- ^ "City of Edmonton Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Quesnell Bridge" (PDF). PIEVC. March 31, 2008. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Quesnell Bridge & Whitemud Drive Widening & Rehabilitation Project". City of Edmonton. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
- ^ "Quesnell Bridge finally open to all traffic". CBC News. September 26, 2011. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Sunger, Sonia (August 23, 2010). "Local dinosaur find generates a flurry of excitement". CTV Edmonton. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Landry, Frank (August 23, 2010). "Edmonton crews find dinosaur bones deep under the city". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2010.