New footbridge finally connects Edmonton and Strathcona County

A new pedestrian bridge connecting Edmonton and Strathcona County has opened, completing a major link in a more than 100-kilometre trail system through six municipalities in the North Saskatchewan River valley.

The bridge connects 167th Avenue in northeast Edmonton with Township Road 540 in Strathcona County, forming a continuous trail from Leduc and Devon to Fort Saskatchewan via the Great Trail of Canada and the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw (Beaver Hill Road Trail).

Some construction work remains in the area, according to an update from Strathcona County, but the bridge itself is open to the public.

The $38.6-million project was funded 50 per cent by the River Valley Alliance, with the remaining cost shared equally by the City of Edmonton and Strathcona County. Design work began in 2021.

Located just north of the new Northeast River Valley Park, which opened in 2023, the bridge includes shared-use pathways, gathering areas at each end and two lookout points offering stunning views of the river and the surrounding valley.

To support the project, Strathcona County is also building additional amenities along Township Road 540, including a parking lot, portable washrooms and a multi-use trail connection.

Strathcona County

That work, partially funded by the federal government, is expected to be completed in 2025.

You can find out more about the trail network on the River Valley Alliance website.