When the City of Edmonton broke ground on its first Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in 1974, it was the first city in North America with a population of under one million to do so, as well as the first rapid transit system built in Western Canada. Last Friday, April 22nd, the city broke ground on its largest single LRT expansion to date, the Valley Line, which is also the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history at a cost of $1.3 billion CAD.

Valley Line Station Map, image via TransEd Partners

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the future Muttart station location, just behind the iconic glass pyramids of the Muttart Conservatory. City Ambassador Daveography was on hand to capture the event in photos.

Ceremonial shovels and hardhats, image by Dave Sutherland

Representatives from all levels of government were on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking, including Mayor Don Iveson, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi, Provincial Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Brian Mason, and Métis Nation of Alberta Region 4 President Cecil Bellrose.

Cecil Bellrose representing the Métis Nation of Alberta, image by Dave Sutherland

A handful of protesters were also present, expressing their concerns about the impact that construction of the line will have on the river valley, and over the loss of a footbridge crossing the North Saskatchewan River. The existing footbridge is slated to be demolished and replaced with a new two-level bridge — to be named the Tawatinâ Bridge after the Cree word for “valley” — carrying the LRT on top and pedestrians underneath.

Minister Sohi, with protesters in behind, image by Dave Sutherland

Both Sohi and Mason expressed how important and personal they each find these projects, as both are not only ministers for infrastructure and transportation in their respective governments, but have also worked for Edmonton Transit System (ETS) in the past, and both are former Edmonton city councillors that had long advocated for improving transit in Edmonton.

Mayor Don Iveson, image by Dave Sutherland

The 13-kilometre line from downtown to Millwoods will be very much unlike the existing Capital and Metro LRT lines. While those lines were built as a more traditional 'metro'-style system using high-floor trains and large stations, the Valley Line is being designed using low-floor trains and mostly smaller-impact stations that will better integrate with their surrounding neighbourhoods.

Mason, Iveson, Sohi, and Edmonton-Centre MP Randy Boissonnault break first ground, image by Dave Sutherland

Representatives from TransEd and others join in, image by Dave Sutherland

In order to qualify for federal funding under the previous government, the project was required to be built, financed, and operated as a Public-Private Partnership (P3). The winning bid for the project was awarded to TransEd Partners, a consortium including Bechtel, Ellisdon, Bombardier, and Fengate Capital Management.

Rendering of the Tawatinâ Bridge, image via TransEd Partners

With construction of this important transit connection now officially underway, the City of Edmonton is already looking towards the next major LRT expansion, having recently selected the continuation of the Valley Line to West Edmonton Mall as its next priority.

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