First Train Crosses Tawatinâ Bridge as Testing Expands on Valley Line Southeast LRT – Edmonton | The Canadian News

Another milestone in the Southeast Valley Line LRT project was reached Tuesday, when the first train crossed the new Tawatinâ Bridge.

The low-floor train crossing the bridge over the North Saskatchewan River marks the beginning of the train test in the new Quarters Tunnel and downtown.

“This train movement expands our test activity from the south to the north side of the river for the first time,” said Dallas Lindskog, communications manager for TransEd, the public-private partner that builds the 13-kilometer line from Mill Woods to the city center.

“In the future, overhead cable activation and train testing will take place across the entire 13-kilometer lineup of the Valley Line.”

The start of tests north of the river is the next step as the company prepares for tests across the entire line. So far, all train and energization tests have been conducted primarily in the Mill Woods area and communities south of the river.

“This is an opportunity for people who live, work and play downtown to witness how low-floor trains move and integrate with the environment,” Dallas said in a press release Tuesday. .

“A key feature of the Valley Line Southeast LRT is that it does not include cross arms, doors or bells. The Valley Line is integrated with the environment and will operate in alignment with the traffic signaling system and with the line of sight of the train driver ”.

The name Tawatinâ is Cree for “valley”. The Tawatinâ Bridge connects the north and south banks of the North Saskatchewan River, replacing the old Cloverdale footbridge.

0:59Completion of the Tawatinâ Bridge platform marks another milestone for Edmonton Valley Line LRT

It also includes an eight-meter-wide shared-use path under the bridge, which is expected to open in the fall. The road will connect to the existing trails of the river valley.

The city of Edmonton commissioned local indigenous artists to create 400 painted panels for the bottom of the bridge, which are intended to celebrate the history of the region.

More to come …