Signs set up in front of the bridge in west Lethbridge (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge Viaduct

Concerns raised over accessibility of High Level Bridge

Jun 14, 2019 | 8:11 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A Lethbridge woman wants more to be done to secure the High Level Bridge.

The trestle is impossible to miss, as it towers over the Oldman River. But, there’s a dark side to the structure; numerous people have attempted to take their lives by jumping from the bridge.

Some have been successful, while others have survived, including a 13-year-old Lethbridge girl last month. Her mother spoke with Lethbridge News Now about her concerns with the accessibility to the bridge.

“It (concerns) all came about after our daughter had attempted suicide on the bridge. With her only being 13 years old, it really raised concern with how accessible this (bridge) can be on one side of the city (west Lethbridge) as opposed to the other, with the other (east side) being so secure and this one only being secured partially. It really raises concern,” she said, speaking anonymously to LNN.

On the west side of Lethbridge, the bridge, which is an active rail line, is loosely blocked off by a barbwire fence, which the woman said is mainly used to keep wildlife away. Humans can easily cross through the fence and make their way onto the bridge.

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Loose barbwire fencing fronts access to the bride on the west side (Lethbridge News Now)

Across the other side of the city, the east side of the bridge is blocked off by an approximately seven-foot chain-link fence, making it very difficult to access the crossing.

The Lethbridge woman said after her daughter jumped, she contacted the City of Lethbridge, who directed her to get in touch with Canadian Pacific Railway.

CP Rail owns and operates the rail line.

“Unfortunately, there’s been no response (from CP Rail)”, she told Lethbridge News Now.

Chain-link fencing blocks off public access on the east side of the High Level Bridge (Lethbridge News Now)

The bridge is the largest railway structure in Canada and the largest of its type in the world and was built between 1907 and 1909.

She suggested setting up a barrier like the one on the east side of the bridge along the west side.

SIGNS OF CAUTION

People who walk by the ends of the bridge on both sides will notice warning signs posted by CP Rail, which read “private property – no trespassing”.

Below that is a sign that says, “life is worth living” and features two suicide crisis line contact numbers.

“I think it’s (the signs) a great idea. You can never have too many positive messages, but I know my daughter’s reaction to it was her laughing and throwing rocks at it, so it all depends what kind of state people are in,” she said.

Working in the field of mental health and addictions in Lethbridge, the mom said she’s come across many people who have tried to end their lives.

“I’ve been lucky to be a part of the ones that have been successfully rehabilitated and it is something I’m proud to be a part of,” she said.

Photo: Lethbridge News Now

The woman’s 13-year-old daughter continues to recover in hospital, and she noted that there wasn’t anything of note that triggered the suicide attempt.

“It’s just something she was predisposed to and just got to the point of shutting down and not reaching out to anybody anymore,” she said.

“It’s not like she had a horrible upbringing or anything. She’s got four parents instead of two, she’s got two step-parents and two biological parents, so she has a large extended family that’s a huge support system. She’s got a lot of people that love her and are there for her.”

“With contacting you guys (LNN), our hopes are to hopefully take away the taboo of mental health and bring awareness…I mean our bridge is beautiful, but it also poses a great danger. We all know it is a destination for a lot of people who want to end their lives, and if we could just make it a little safer and less accessible, hopefully it can be a bit more of a deterrent.”

In an emailed statement to LNN, CP Rail said:

“CP and the CP Police Service spend considerable effort educating the public about rail safety and the importance of keeping clear of the tracks and adjacent right of way. Rail safety is a shared responsibility in which the community plays key role. Trespassing on railroad property is illegal and dangerous, and trespassers may be ticketed.

At both the east and west ends of the High Level Bridge there are No Trespassing signs, as well as the phone number for a suicide crisis line.

For more information on rail safety, visit www.operationlifesaver.ca.”