Edmonton’s High Level Bridge is closing to traffic in 2027.
The City of Edmonton says this summer’s extreme weather caused landslides and erosion on the river valley slopes beside the bridge. Those slopes need urgent stabilization.
The City had already planned to rehabilitate the 113-year-old bridge in 2028. Instead of closing it twice, it’s doing both jobs at once, a year early.
“By combining the urgent repairs with the planned rehabilitation of the High Level Bridge, we will reduce the total duration and number of closures overall,” said Sara Nichols, the City’s deputy city manager of infrastructure services.
First, the reassurance: the City says the High Level Bridge remains safe to use.
Key takeaways
The High Level Bridge will be fully closed to vehicles during 2027 construction.
The work was moved up from 2028 to line up with urgent slope repairs.
Pedestrian access will be kept open when possible.
Exact dates and detours haven’t been announced.
Northbound Low Level Bridge work has been pushed from 2027 to 2028.
The City hasn’t said whether the High Level Bridge Streetcar will run in 2027.
Why the bridge is closing a year early
Edmonton’s summer was rough on the river valley.
Heavy rain in June and July soaked the slopes on both sides of the bridge. The City says landslides and erosion now affect the land right next to the structure.
Crews made emergency fixes over the summer, including sidewalk closures and drainage repairs. Those were stopgaps. The slopes still need permanent work.
Since crews will be there anyway, the City is pulling the bridge’s planned rehabilitation forward to the same construction season.
What crews will fix
The City says the work will focus on priority repairs to keep the bridge running and extend its service life:
The bridge deck, the surface you drive on
The surrounding slopes damaged this summer
The bearings, which carry the bridge’s weight onto its supports
The drainage, which struggled under this summer’s rain
This is not a full rebuild. It’s meant to keep the High Level safe until a replacement is eventually built.
What it means for drivers
The High Level carries between 24,000 and 27,000 southbound vehicles a day, according to the City.
It has been one-way southbound since 1980. It’s the direct route from downtown to Garneau, the University of Alberta and Old Strathcona.
During construction, the bridge will be fully closed to traffic. Drivers will need other river crossings. The City says detours will be communicated in advance, and more construction details will come in the next few months.
Already crossing it? Two things are in effect right now:
EPCOR drainage work has closed the west entrance to the bridge from 97 Avenue. Use the east entrance. Both lanes are open once you’re on the bridge.
The sidewalk from the southeast staircase to Saskatchewan Drive is closed until repairs are done. The west sidewalk is open.
What it means for pedestrians and cyclists
The City says pedestrian access will be maintained when possible during construction.
That wording leaves room for temporary closures. If you walk or bike the High Level to work or school, expect changes and plan a backup route.
What happens to the High Level Bridge Streetcar?
This is the question many Edmontonians will care about most.
The High Level Bridge Streetcar is run by volunteers with the Edmonton Radial Railway Society. It crosses the top deck of the bridge between Old Strathcona and downtown, about 15 storeys above the North Saskatchewan River. For many visitors it’s the best view in the city.
The 2026 season ended on October 12. Whether there will be a 2027 season is now an open question.
The City hasn’t said whether the streetcar can run while the bridge is closed for construction. The work covers the same months the streetcar normally operates.
There’s a bigger question behind that one. The City is planning for an eventual replacement of the High Level Bridge, and it hasn’t said whether a new bridge would carry the heritage streetcar.
Culture Alberta looked at that uncertainty in May: the streetcar’s history, the volunteers who keep it running and what replacement could mean for it.
For now, nothing has been announced about ending the streetcar.
Low Level Bridge work pushed to 2028
The City is also shuffling other bridge work to keep downtown moving.
Rehabilitation of the northbound Low Level Bridge was scheduled for 2027. It’s now pushed to 2028, so drivers won’t lose two major river crossings in the same year.
Why fix a bridge that will be replaced?
Because replacement is still years away.
The City says detailed investigations found the High Level needs far more rehabilitation than originally expected. Rather than pour money into a full overhaul, it’s taking a phased approach: targeted repairs, proactive maintenance and closer monitoring, while it plans an eventual replacement. The City’s project timeline runs into the late 2030s.
No replacement design has been chosen, and no demolition date has been set.
Replacing the High Level will be complicated. It’s a designated Municipal Historic Resource. The City says future planning will look at ways to honour the bridge’s history while meeting the city’s transportation, accessibility and growth needs.
A quick history of the High Level Bridge
1910 to 1913: The Canadian Pacific Railway builds the bridge.
1912: The bridge’s promise helps bring Strathcona and Edmonton together as one city.
1913: The first train crosses.
1980: Two-way traffic ends. The bridge becomes southbound only.
1994: CP transfers ownership to the City of Edmonton.
Today: The bridge carries cars, pedestrians, cyclists and the summer streetcar, and it’s a designated Municipal Historic Resource.
What to watch for next
The City still has to confirm:
exact closure start and end dates
detour routes for drivers and transit
when pedestrian and cycling access may be limited
whether the streetcar will run in 2027
the cost of the combined work
If you cross the High Level every day, start thinking about a backup route now. Culture Alberta will update this story as the City releases details.
Frequently asked questions
When is the High Level Bridge closing?
In 2027. The City hasn’t released exact dates yet.
Why is the High Level Bridge closing?
Summer 2026 storms caused landslides and erosion beside the bridge. The City is combining those urgent repairs with rehabilitation that was planned for 2028.
Is the High Level Bridge safe right now?
Yes. The City says the bridge remains safe to use.
Can I walk or bike across the High Level Bridge in 2027?
The City says pedestrian access will be maintained when possible.
Will the High Level Bridge Streetcar run in 2027?
The City hasn’t said. The streetcar’s 2026 season ended October 12.
Is the Low Level Bridge closing in 2027?
No. Northbound Low Level Bridge rehabilitation has been moved to 2028.
Is the High Level Bridge being torn down?
Not yet. The City is planning for an eventual replacement, but no design or demolition date has been set.
Sources
City of Edmonton, High Level Bridge Rehabilitation (Project Update, Fall 2026): https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/roads/high-level-bridge-rehabilitation
Edmonton Radial Railway Society, High Level Bridge Streetcar: https://www.edmontonstreetcars.ca/highlevelbridge
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