Winnipeg | Arlington Bridge

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by WinCitySparky

But it is being replaced?

No, only 1/3 of the bridge has funding to be demolished.

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[drew]

That’s the spirit!

^ not sure what you are getting at - but it's been closed for just about 3 years now, there are no plans for it's replacement and construction on this type of infrastructure will take several years to complete easily. So yeah - 10 to 15 years or longer.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

What is? An old rusty bridge being demolished?

its only rusty cause the city allowed it to be

[WinCitySparky]

Mostly inferring that you still admit one day it will get built, at an admittedly Winnipeg pace I guess

[Mr Tall Forehead]

It’s too bad they couldn’t keep the bridge for AT but to me it doesn’t make sense to spend a couple hundred million on a two lane bridge. The money could be better spent on widening McPhillips underpass or towards other spans like Louise or Redwood which are also falling apart.

[drew]

Or, hear me out - widen the McPhillips underpass BEFORE you close the bridge.

I am still not convinced the Arlington bridge is beyond saving, and definitely could have been fixed up as required to keep going a few more years. We have the technology.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

I’ll defer to you on the tech available to fix it. I’m just looking at it from which bridges get the most use and make the most sense to replace.

[Wpg_Guy]

City of Winnipeg

The Arlington Bridge, which has been part of Winnipeg's urban landscape for more than 114 years, is now being demolished. The first section was removed today.


The decommissioning and removal will be done in two phases over two years. These are next steps toward building a modern replacement in approximately the same footprint.


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[Wpg_Guy]

‘Historic day’: Section of Arlington Bridge removed
Malak Abas
Thursday, Jul. 16, 2026

The first pieces of the deteriorating Arlington Bridge were removed Thursday morning.

A portion of the bridge directly above the CPKC railway lines was the first to be taken away as part of a two-year demolition project to take down the bridge, which was built in 1912 and closed suddenly in November 2023 due to structural issues.

Mayor Scott Gillingham called it a “historic day” while crews worked on the bridge Thursday morning.

“Today marks the start of what council has decided needs to happen. The bridge needs to come down,” Gillingham told reporters outside of the blocked-off bridge.

“There’s also money in our budget for the design of the new bridge that will be worked on as well.”

Decommissioning and removing the bridge will occur in two stages: the first will involve removing the south part of the bridge from Logan Avenue into the CPKC yard, and the second phase, slated to begin in 2027, will work north at Dufferin Avenue.

“This is a very intricate project, you can appreciate there’s over 50 sets of tracks that this bridge spans that are active,” said Gillingham. “And so to take the bridge down is going to take some time.”

No full road closures are anticipated during the first phase of work. Traffic in the area of Logan Avenue and Arlington Street will be “intermittently affected,” according to a press release from the city.

City council approved $17 million to decommission and remove the bridge in January 2025, and $5 million to begin designing a new bridge.

Design work and funding to construct a new bridge will be considered by council in the future.






Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham (centre) was on hand to watch the start of the historic bridge’s removal, talking to media with some city councillors on hand (from left) Janice Lukes, Ross Eadie and Vivian Santos. (Mike Deal / Free Press)
























The start of the historic bridge’s removal. (Mike Deal / Free Press)


Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham (left) walks up the bridge with Coun. Janice Lukes. (Mike Deal / Free Press)

Winnipeg Free Press

[Sheepish]

Would be cool if they could keep a section as an installation in a park in the North End. Or perhaps incorprate into design of the docks on the waterfront.

[Malcsta]

A statue made from the metal overhang portion of the bridge would be pretty cool. I know a few artists that would be down to get funky with a giant piece of metal like that

[jim_bred]

Looking forward to summer of 2028 when it's finally down.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

I like the ideas of using parts of the span for public art. Plop a span or two on a path in Kildonan or Assiniboine Park and cover them in ivy and others crawling plants. I think it would be a cool addition.

[OTA in Winnipeg]

The steel from this bridge is worth, probably millions, because it was made before nuclear testing began.

All steel made since then has a radioactive signature.

[zalf]

I briefly had the same thought, but my understanding is the need for low-background steel has mostly dropped off. The half-life of the contaminants is short enough that newly smelted steel is good enough again.

[Wpg_Guy]

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[Wpg_Guy]

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[Wpg_Guy]

Two spans removed, three to go.

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