Alberta Eyes Tougher Penalties for Truck Crashes Into Bridges

Alberta’s transportation minister says his office is looking at strengthening penalties to protect bridges from commercial trucks after more than 80 incidents in Edmonton alone in the last six years.

Edmonton’s double-decker High Level Bridge has been hit by commercial carriers five times this year as of Nov. 18, a spokesperson from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) told The Epoch Times on Dec. 29. Additionally, 10 commercial trucks have gotten stuck trying to enter the bridge this year, bringing the total number of incidents in 2025 to 15.

“Bridge strikes are completely preventable, and Alberta’s government takes them very seriously,”  Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen said in a Dec. 29 statement emailed to The Epoch Times.

“When an incident occurs, our investigators work with law enforcement to determine whether the commercial carrier complied with all laws and National Safety Code standards.”

Dreeshen said that if violations are found, the registrar can issue “corrective measures,” such as operation conditions, financial penalties, or the suspension or cancellation of Safety Fitness Certificates and vehicle registrations.

He said the Alberta government is currently reviewing options to strengthen such penalties under the Traffic Safety Act, including higher fines, expanded powers for the registrar to suspend or disqualify drivers’ licences, and a system of progressive discipline for repeat offenders.

“Our goal is simple — to hold bad actors accountable while maintaining fairness for responsible operators who follow the rules,” Dreeshen said.

“These changes will help ensure that Alberta continues to lead the country in commercial-vehicle safety, industry accountability, and the protection of public infrastructure.”

According to the EPS, there have been a total of 84 incidents involving commercial carriers and the High Level Bridge in the last six years, including 21 bridge collisions, and 63 incidents of commercial carriers getting stuck trying to enter the bridge.

“The EPS encourages all drivers, regardless of location, to be mindful of posted height restrictions to avoid collisions and the traffic issues that may result,” the EPS spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

The lower level of the High Level Bridge has 3.2 metres of clearance, meaning the typical school bus just barely fits, while most commercial transport trucks do not.

The High Level Bridge has been an Edmonton landmark since its construction from 1910 to 1913 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the city of Edmonton says. The bridge was constructed to allow for four modes of transportation, including train, streetcar, automobile, and pedestrian.

Streetcar traffic on the bridge ended in 1951, and the Canadian Pacific Railway stopped running trains over the upper deck of the bridge in 1989. Automobile traffic and a pedestrian walkway continue on the lower deck today. Additionally, a tourist streetcar operates seasonally on the upper deck.

The bridge was designated a Municipal Historic Resource in 1995, ensuring the bridge cannot be destroyed or altered. Its truss systems, concrete piers, superstructure and substructure, metal handrails, and black paint colour are its character-defining elements.