After being a part of Winnipeg’s skyline for more than 114 years, the Arlington Bridge is coming down.
On Thursday, crews removed the first piece of the bridge. The careful demolition will unfold in two stages over two years.
How we’re bringing the bridge down
The first stage of work will take place over the next four to six months. It focuses on removing the south portion of the bridge, from Logan Avenue to midway into the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) rail yard. We expect this phase to continue until October.
The second stage begins in June 2027. That’s when we will continue to remove the bridge to the north at Dufferin Avenue.
Why it had to close
Officially opened on February 5, 1912, the bridge connected the North End and Point Douglas over the rail yard.
Decisions to close a major piece of our transportation network are never made lightly. In this case, engineers determined the bridge was in poor condition and structurally unsafe. It was permanently closed in November 2023.
Further investigation showed the structure was too deteriorated to be repaired. The steel truss couldn’t safely support traffic or construction, and the concrete foundations weren’t able to be used for a new bridge.
What happens next
Last year, Council approved $17 million for the decommissioning and removal, as well as an additional $5 million to begin design of a new bridge.
Removing the existing bridge and beginning design work are the next steps toward building a modern replacement in approximately the same footprint. The new bridge will meet today’s safety, design, and accessibility standards.
Construction funding will be considered as part of a future Council decision.
Watch the first piece being removed
Damir Muhurdarevic is a Bridge Project Engineer with us. He is also the project manager for the decommissioning and demolition of the Arlington Bridge. He explains how the bridge is being taken apart in pieces in the video below. It was filmed on July 16, 2026 as the first piece was being removed.