This footbridge will link Edmonton to Strathcona County and connect to the trail systems within the North Saskatchewan River Valley.
The Amisk Wâciw Âsokan (Beaver Hills Bridge) is Now Open!
The Edmonton-Strathcona County Footbridge, now officially named Amisk Wâciw Âsokan (Beaver Hills Bridge), is completed and is open for public use.
Completed in August 2025, the 230-meter span footbridge connects 167 Avenue in Edmonton to Township Road 540 in Strathcona County, improving access to the trail network of the North Saskatchewan River Valley and creating new opportunities for recreation and connection to green space. The bridge features a curved design that follows the natural landscape, with two lookout points for viewing the river valley, space for gathering and resting on either side of the bridge and is a shared pathway designed for people of all ages and abilities.
The bridge name, Amisk Wâciw Âsokan (ahmsk-wahCEE Ah-sho-kuhn), meaning Beaver Hills Bridge, was gifted by Elder Dr. Jerry Saddleback. The name honours the area’s historical and cultural significance and reflects the heritage of the region’s original inhabitants.
What to expect:
- Bridge access is open to the public.
- Ongoing EPCOR construction work near 167 Avenue may affect some access to the area.
- Construction of supportive amenities is underway on the Strathcona County side, including the parking lot.
- To ensure the continued safety of all bridge users, please follow posted signage.
This project was funded in part by a grant from Trans Canada Trail to enhance our local section of Canada’s national trail.
Bridge Photos
Project Timeline
Phase 2
Phase 1
Project History
Construction began in summer 2023 and was substantially completed in late July 2025. During August, the bridge will be closed for 8 to 10 weekdays, from 6am to 6pm, to allow for the installation of canopies over the bridge’s lookout points and other additional finishing touches. Outside of these closures, the bridge remains open for pedestrian and cyclist use.
Please note: there is ongoing construction in the area near 167 Avenue and in the Strathcona County parking lot.
We ask all bridge users to follow construction signage while the canopy installation is underway.
The Edmonton-Strathcona County bridge under construction in spring 2024, viewed from the north.
Construction continues to progress. The bridge girders have been installed and the bridge deck is currently being formed. The concrete deck pour will be completed in July.
The shared-use path that runs parallel to the North Saskatchewan River remains temporarily closed near the Quarry Golf Course with no access through to 167 Avenue Northeast. Trail users can still access the trail starting at 17 Street Northeast until the dead-end.
Please see the map below for more information
Construction of the footbridge is on schedule and will continue throughout the fall and winter months. Work on the river has started with pier piling completed and cofferdams excavations underway.
The shared-use path that runs parallel to the North Saskatchewan River remains temporarily closed near the Quarry Golf Course with no access through to 167 Avenue northeast. Trail users can still access the trail starting at 17 Street northeast until the dead-end.
The new footbridge is being constructed to cross the North Saskatchewan River, linking the City of Edmonton (167 Avenue) with Strathcona County (Township Road 540). This footbridge will improve access and connectivity, leading toward a continuous multi-use trail system in the North Saskatchewan River Valley.
Closures of the area will begin in June as pre-construction activities are underway.
During construction, the shared-use path that runs parallel to the North Saskatchewan River will be temporarily closed near the Quarry Golf Course with no access through to 167 Avenue northeast. Trail users can still access the trail starting at 17 Street northeast until the dead-end. Please see map below for more information.
The footbridge is expected to begin construction in spring/summer 2023.
The process to select a contractor to deliver the project has been extended. As a result, construction will not begin in 2022 as first anticipated. We will continue to keep you informed as the project moves forward.
An online public event was held on March 24, 2022 to share the preliminary design prepared for the proposed footbridge and open spaces on each side of the North Saskatchewan River. Potential impacts during construction to the local trails were also presented.
Thank you to all who attended. If you were unable to attend, the presentation recording and slides are available below, as well as the What We Heard Report.
Presentation recording
Presentation slides (10.25 MB)
What We Heard Report
Shared-use Path Open
The shared-use path along the west side of the North Saskatchewan River is open for pedestrians and cyclists. The geotechnical testing has been completed.
Boreholes were drilled along the trail to gather information required for the construction of the Edmonton-Strathcona County Footbridge, which is anticipated to start in summer 2022. All holes were restored after the testing was completed.
Thank you for attending the June 24 online presentation where we shared concept designs for the proposed footbridge and open spaces on each side of the North Saskatchewan River. If you were unable to attend, please view the presentation.
An online public event was held on April 14, 2021 to provide information on the scope of the project. The project team sought information on how the open space sites on each side of the river are used, how each site may be improved and what the public would like to experience on the proposed footbridge.
Thank you to all who attended. If you were unable to attend, you can learn more by watching a short video presentation.
A feasibility study was completed in January 2020 to better understand the feasibility of constructing a bridge in this area and better define the project scope, costs and construction timelines. The study considered the City of Edmonton, Strathcona County and RVA plans and policies as well as technical constraints and requirements such as geotechnical (soils and slopes), environmental (water and land) and hydrotechnical (river flow) information, regulatory requirements, land uses and existing utilities.
The feasibility study recommended a general location for the footbridge and trail connections; connecting 167 Avenue (on the west/Edmonton side of the river) to Township Road 540 (on the east/Strathcona County side of the river).
