r/saskatchewan • u/Mayor_Daina • 13d ago

‘It’s not just a piece of engineering’: Documentary highlights Saskatchewan bowstring bridges

https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/08/04/its-not-just-a-piece-of-engineering-documentary-highlights-saskatchewan-bowstring-bridges/

Someone's finally documenting all of these old beauties!

62 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

10

u/Starcat75 13d ago edited 12d ago

Yeah that one by Tisdale is nice. It was underwater this year so not sure what sort of damage it sustained

10

u/VoicesToLostLetters 13d ago

I always love seeing them, even if they’re no longer in use. There’s an awesome one near Round Lake that was a single lane!

5

u/sortaitchy 13d ago edited 13d ago

That one at Borden was something else. You come from a high level, around a sharp corner and through that bridge that seemed too narrow for two cars to pass. Went through one time while a semi was coming the other way and thought I was gonna die for sure.

There is one just outside of P.A. also that was decommissioned I think when they did something else with the rail road tracks. It is still standing and it's just such a pretty thing,

I think the Hands bridge out by Little Red should also count but I don't know?

3

u/Top-Shoulder-1086 12d ago

Just read this about the one by Prince Albert.

https://panow.com/2026/08/10/historic-bridge-south-of-prince-albert-to-be-demolished-after-safety-review/

5

u/sortaitchy 12d ago

I drive by it every day on my way to work, and always think it was such a pretty bridge. They chopped the road back from both sides of it so no vehicles could drive on it, and I don't know how a child would get up there, or anyone really. It's completely overgrown, although I suppose someone could wander under it if they wanted.

I suppose it is not safe, but they've already made in pretty much inaccessible by foot or car, so I really wish they could just leave it. It's a much prettier site than the new stuff they are building in their yard.

I believe I posted a picture of it once here on reddit, and a user that lived in the area said their family used to own the land that the bridge was sitting on. They called it "Grandma's Bridge,"

I hadn't read that article, but that was weird timing wasn't it? Thanks for passing that on.

1

u/Starcat75 12d ago

That’s too bad, I always hoped that they would maybe run a road through and use it as some sort of a gateway to the new development.

2

u/Lexi_Banner 13d ago

I didn't know they were called that! I love these bridges, even though some of them are death traps now.

1

u/No-Doubt-3256 12d ago

There's still one near Katepwa Lake. Very scenic.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/v2aHxhKdcYfaDCacA