MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
History of Bridges Spanning
the Milk River
the Milk River
A History of Del Bonita and Surrounding Districts,
Pages 67 - 69
In early days the settlers had to ford the Milk River in order
to go to Cardston, Magrath, or Milk River. In some areas
school children had to cross the river morning and night.
Over the years the Bridge branch of the Alberta Department
of Transportation has improved these conditions through
construction of bridges across the Milk River. At present
five bridges span the Milk River to enable traffic to move
in and out of the area encircled by the North Fork.
Whiskey Gap Bridge Located at N.E. 11-1-12-4
To the west a bridge was built across the Milk River onthe NE- I I- 1-23-4. On September 20, 1917 a petition
for a bridge on the main road from Cardston and
Woolford through Whiskey Gap, signed by ten persons,
was sent to the Department of Transportation by A.
A. Roney Of Whiskey Gap. This location was called
Peters' Crossing.
In August 1918 two twenty-four foot timber pile spans
were constructed across the Milk River. During January
1923 one forty foot truss was constructed two hundred
yards up stream from the existing bridge. This steel,
span fabricated by the Dominion Bridge Co., cost
$1,135.00.
In August 1962 a sixty foot steel girder detour span
was constructed three hundred feet up stream. The
existing steel truss was dismantled and hauled to the
Fort Macleod yard. A petition signed by thirty ratepayers
of Cardston M.D. 6 requested that the forty foot span be
relocated in N. W. -28-1-22-4.
In 1963 three Pre-stressed girder spans were constructed
on a concrete subtructure by Bridge Foreman L. Nash on
a stream diversion about a hundred feet north of the old
bridge site.
Bridge Located W.N.W. 29-1-22-4
Near Frank Hoyt's Place
For many years people living in this area north of the Milk River either crossed on a home made suspension
bridge, or drove around by Whiskey Gap to the west or
to highway 62 on the east. Children attending the Del
Bonita school had to cross the river twice a day on
the cable bridge. At one time there was a device
which was pulled across the cable by a system of
pulleys.
During the period from 1967 to 1975 requests from Mrs.
Reece Leishman and Mr. Frank Hoyt asking for a
bridge were received by the Department of
Transportation. In 1975 a bridge site was surveyed
and in August 1975 the bridge was designed. In
February 1976 a steel span one hundred and thirty
five feet in length, salvaged bridge was constructed
on treated timber abutments. The completion of this
bridge was much appreciated by people on both sides
of the river. In 1976 the bridge was painted. The
future completion of the road from this bridge to
Cardston will shorten the miles required to travel to
points west.
Bridge located S.W. 1-2-22-4
First Bridge Over Milk River at Taylor's Place
On September 6, 1913 a letter was received fromthe District Surveyor and Engineer, R. J. Gordon
stating that he and Mr. Martin Woolf, M.P. had
selected a bridge site. This was good news to the
homesteaders but according to the Lethbridge Herald
some felt that a bridge would better meet the needs of
the area if it could be located further east.
In 1915 an eighty foot span from the Dominion Bridge
Co. was constructed on timber pile abutments, to
cross the river on the S.W.-I-2-22-4. The completion
of this bridge marked an epoch in the lives of the
homesteaders of the lease country.
In 1924 the bridge was painted.
In October 1936 a petition with thirty-two names
objecting to removal of the bridge was received by
the Department of Transportation. In November 1938
the steel was dismantled and stored at Henry's farm
N.W.-24-1-22-4. Then all traffic crossed the new
bridge approximately three miles east, near the Swal-
low place.
Bridge located S.W. 5-2-21-4 on Highway
62 Near Roland Swallow's Place
An old hundred foot steel bridge existed at thissite in 1955 but no records can be found in the
Bridge Branch to show when it was built. The
steel was of light loading and was of the link
and pin type and was thought to have been
fabricated in 1900. It is assumed that this bridge
was constructed about 1933 or 1934. For a time
both this bridge and the one at the Taylor place
were in use. It was sold by tender when the new
bridge was completed because it was not suitable
for use elsewhere.
In September 1955 a new 54-74-54-foot steel girder
bridge on a concrete substructure was constructed
by Bridge Foreman J. Short. During the summer of
1979 this bridge was repaired and resurfaced.
Bridge located N.E. 10-2-21-4 by Hillmer's Place
On December 16, 1918 a petition requesting a bridge wassent to the Bridge Branch of the Department of Transportation.
On June 28, 1923 a letter was sent from J. F. Gagan asking
the department to pay $150.00 for part of a wagon and a
horse lost while trying to ford the Milk River.
In May 1945 four 25 foot timber pile spans were constructed
fourteen feet above the stream bed. This bridge helped
to shorten school bus routes, and brought people north
of the river closer to the rest of the community. On April 21,
1948 the bridge washed out leaving only the south span in
place with the second span hanging. The third and fourth
spans were completely carried away.
In October 1953 a steel span one hundred and twenty-five
feet in length was constructed five hundred feet south of
the old bridge on treated timber abutments on a stream
diversion. The steel span was salvaged from Glenwood.
In August 1970 the bridge was painted blue.
Bridge located S. E. 6-2-18-4 On the South Fork
of the Milk River On the Road east to Milk River
On December 6, 1914 a cross section by the District Surveyorand Engineer R. J. Gordon showing the height to which ice
piles up in the spring, as shown him by the Foreman of the
P. Burns ranch, was submitted to the Department of
Transportation.
In November 1916 a hundred foot steel span from the
Dominion Bridge Co. was constructed with two twenty
foot timber approach spans on the east end. In 1924
this bridge was painted. On May 27, 1928 the bridge
was damaged by ice, and fifteen piles were required
for repair.
In October 1964 a 66-83-66 foot continuous composite steel
girder bridge on a concrete substructure was constructed,
one hundred and twenty feet upstream from the existing bridge,
by Bridge Foreman T. L. Frayn.
These five bridges in their present locations are heavily travelled
in all seasons of the year, and give easy access to the area
between the north and south forks of the Milk River.
Miscellaneous Histories
Mary Tollestrup