Start of Arlington Bridge deconstruction marks ‘historic day,’ Winnipeg mayor says

Winnipeg has embarked on the deconstruction of its century-old Arlington Bridge, a moment Mayor Scott Gillingham described as an "historic day" for the city. The bridge, which spans over a thousand active railway tracks, has been a crucial connector for residents of north and south Winnipeg for decades.

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This bridge has been a very important topic of conversation. Especially for the residents of north Winnipeg and south Winnipeg that rely upon this route, and have relied upon this route for a long, long time.

The $17 million decommissioning and removal project, approved by City Council, commenced with the dismantling of the first section on Thursday. The process will be carried out in two phases. Phase one, estimated to last six months, will focus on removing the southern portion of the bridge. Phase two, beginning next year, will address the northern section near Dufferin Avenue.

No vehicles have crossed the Arlington Bridge since November 2023, when a study deemed it to be in "poor condition and could not be repaired or rebuilt on the same foundation." Traffic has since been rerouted to Salter Street and McPhillips Street. Drivers in the area should anticipate intermittent traffic disruptions around Logan Avenue and Arlington Street during the deconstruction.

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So, to take the bridge down, is going to take some time because it will have to be taken down in sections.

While the removal process is underway, the city has allocated $5 million in January 2025 to initiate the design phase for a replacement bridge. Mayor Gillingham confirmed that significant design work has been completed, but a definitive timeline for construction funding and the eventual rebuilding of the Arlington Street bridge has not yet been established. The city estimates that constructing a new bridge will take four to five years once funding is secured, with potential involvement from provincial and federal governments.

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We need to build a new Arlington Street bridge. That has been determined. That’s why the City of Winnipeg and our council put money into the budget to start with the design work.