This bridge across the Assiniboine River in Winnipeg was completed between 1954 and 1955. The fixed-span crossing was approved by the City’s Department of Public Works in February 1954. The substructure was provided by the Harris Construction Company Limited and Dominion Bridge Company contracted for the superstructure. Construction was supervised by City Engineer W. D. Hurst and Associate Bridge Engineers J. B. Striowski and William Walkden. The $1.75 million span was opened officially on 15 September 1955 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mayor George E. Sharpe and Premier Douglas L. Campbell. A commemorative plaque is affixed along the northeast side of the structure off Assiniboine Avenue. A refit was completed in 1984 at a cost of nearly $4 million.
Midtown Bridge official opening by Premier Douglas Campbell (left) and Mayor George Sharpe (right) with Sharpe's car in the background (September 1955)
Source: [Photo caption], Winnipeg Tribune, 15 September 1955, page 1.
Midtown Bridge from the roof of Chateau 100 (1978)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Government Photographs (CH 0267), GR3552, 78-2883.
Midtown Bridge with commemorative plaque along pedestrian access stairway, located at N49.88524, W97.13870 (September 2017)
Source: Nathan KramerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88421, W97.13793
denoted by symbol on the map above
“Midtown Bridge design gets okay,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 February 1955, page 3.
“Traffic men face 10 days of horror,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 September 1955, pages 1 and 4.
“1,210 tons of steel went into bridge,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 September 1955, page 25.
“Steel girder job biggest in Manitoba,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 September 1955, page 25.
“Congratulations to the citizens of Winnipeg on the opening of their new Midtown Bridge,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 September 1955, page 38.
“Nearly 20,000 vehicles pour over new bridge,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 September 1955, page 3.
“Bridge is centre of ‘name calling’,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 March 1962, page 3.
“When will the Donald Street Bridge be open again,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 September 1984, page 23.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 16 May 2021
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
