Traunton/Fortner Bridge

Further east of Alexo is the Traunton/Fortner Bridge.  It is probably only a couple of miles, and this was the eastern extent of our ATV ride.  Several years ago we had hiked in to the east end of the bridge.  At that point in time it was just an open steel structure, largely abandoned and forgotten.

Historic papers suggest that this steel bridge was put into service in 1931.  It replaced a large wood trestle that once stood right beside it.  There was a date of 1924 cast into the concrete pier at the east end that suggests work was started sometime prior to the date it was put into service.

The little creek that the bridge spans it not much more than a trickle for most of the year.  Even down below it is at most three or four feet wide and easily crossed.  Up near the David Thompson Highway there is not much evidence of a ravine, and just a small little gully that the creek follows.

But in between the highway and the North Saskatchewan River the little creek has eroded away a very deep and wide ravine.

Government spent around $2 million dollars [so I have heard] and refurbished the bridge.  Precast concrete decking was placed onto the steel structure. and large heavily reinforced railings have been installed.  There are pull out points and picnic tables out on the bridge and it now makes up part of the rail trail between Rocky Mountain House and Nordegg.  That trail remains under construction but the section from the bridge west to Nordegg has been complete for a couple of years.

I'm not sure of the height of the bridge at the highest point of the span.  But when you stand out near the center and look down, the tops of the mature trees are at least 40 to 50 feet below.  My guess is that the bridge probably stands 75 to 100 feet high.

I pulled this aerial view of the bridge, taken before restorations, from the Government of Alberta website.  It speaks of the provincial government investing $6 million in the trail project, with a small contribution from Clearwater County.  Further work on the trail is scheduled for 2025 and 2026.