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 Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge - Fredericton, NB Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 45° 57.467 W 066° 37.516
19T E 684019 N 5092098
A wide river like the St. John requires a long bridge, such as this one. This is possibly the second longest pedestrian bridge in Canada converted from a railway bridge.
Waymark Code: WMQD9A
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Date Posted: 02/08/2016
Views: 11
Measured at about 581 metres ± (1,906 ft ±), this camelback through truss bridge spans the St. John River with a total of nine individual truss spans. The third span from the west end is a swing span, actually consisting of two half length spans. These two spans are cantilevered from the centre of the swing span, resting on the neighbouring piers when the span is closed and hanging free when the span is swung open. The swing span last operated in the early
1980s to allow the passage of a dredge, assisting in the building of the Westmorland Street Bridge.
The first railway bridge in Fredericton, built by the Northern and Western Railway, became operational in 1889. Heavily damaged by ice and flood waters in the spring of March 1935, the bridge was replaced with this bridge by the Canadian National Railway (CNR), by then owner of the line. It was officially opened by federal Minister of Transport, the Honourable C. D. Howe, on June 1, 1938. In March of 1996 the final freight train went through Fredericton, an emergency shipment of coal to the heating plant at CFB Gagetown, while the last freight passed over this bridge in April of 1995.
Since 1997 the bridge has been part of the Sentier New Brunswick Trail system which is part of the Trans Canada Trail, the world's longest hiking and biking trail.
Bill Thorpe walking Bridge
The Walking Bridge may be the longest pedestrian bridge in the world converted from a railway bridge, and is also the most popular ‘people place’ in Fredericton, rivaled only by Boyce Market. This 581m (1905 ft) walking/pedestrian bridge connects the northside and southside trails of Fredericton.
This Bridge offers panoramic views of the St. John River and the Fredericton skyline from its three viewing platforms, one of which was funded by the Y’s Men Associations. In 2008 it was named the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge in recognition of the dedication by Bill Thorpe to the Fredericton’s Trail system.
Historically this bridge has an interesting background. The original
bridge was constructed by the Fredericton and St. Mary’s Railway
Bridge Company in 1888 to accommodate the expanding railway network
which twenty years earlier had reached Fredericton. By 1924 it had
become part of the Canadian National system and was used by the Canadian Pacific Railway as well. The first bridge was carried away by the spring freshet and ice jam of 1936, but the second and existing one was in operation again at a higher elevation by 1938.
The single pier upriver was placed here in conjunction with the swing span that enabled the passage of riverboats. The swing span last operated in the early 1980s to allow the passage of a dredge, assisting in the building of the Westmorland Street Bridge. In April 1995 the last train crossed the bridge and by 1997 it was planked by Sentier NB Trail Council with the assistance of the City of Fredericton.
On the down river side of the bridge, are the remnants of a wharf that was once used by tankers who came to refuel at the Irving Oil Co. These tanks, built in the early 1930s and removed in 2004, stood on the original site of the 17th century Fort Nashwaak, followed by the Gibson Tannery. 200 metres further along the trail is the Trail Visitor Centre, a place for shelter, relief, refreshments, and information for the thousands of trail users. This place was built on the site of the last South Devon Railway Station.
From Fredericton Trails
Bridge Type: Truss
Bridge Usage: Pedestrian
Moving Bridge: Swing Bridge (pivots to the side)
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Visit Instructions:
Please provide a photo taken at the time of visit.
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