Historic Sites of Manitoba: Canadian National Railway Bridge (Red River, Emerson, Municipality of Emerson-Franklin)

A steel through truss bridge across the Red River, on the CNR Emerson Subdivision at Emerson in the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin, was constructed in 1913 for the Canadian Northern Railway (later Canadian National Railway). It was designed to pivot in the centre to permit the passage of ships on the river.

The bridge also originally had single-lane roads along the north and south sides connecting Morris Street and Merrick Avenue that would convey automobile drivers into town to the Emerson Customs Building. The single-lane roads have since been taken out of service. The south side roadway has been removed while the north side is now part of the Crow Wing Trail Loop on the Trans-Canada Trail Crow.

The bridge is still used by the Canadian National Railway.

Postcard view of Canadian National Railway Bridge at Emerson (no date) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2010-0182 Aerial view of the Canadian National Railway Bridge at Emerson (January 2025) Source: Jordan Makichuk Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.00506, W97.21970 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Manitoba Business: Canadian Northern Railway / Canadian National Railway

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Emerson Customs Building / Emerson Hospital (26 Main Street, Emerson, Municipality of Emerson-Franklin)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Emerson CNR Station (Emerson, Municipality of Emerson-Franklin)

Sources:

Emerson: A Centennial History by Town of Emerson, 1975, page 106.

Manitoba, Canadian Train Bridges and Trestles.

We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.

Page revised: 4 February 2025

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