Smith Bridge FAQ
History and General Background Information
The Smith Bridge was built in 1944 by the US Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Alaska Canada (ALCAN) Highway. Before this bridge was built, a ferry was required for travel between the Hamlet of Smith and the Town of Slave Lake.
Locals and out-of-towners alike rely on the Smith Bridge to access gorgeous regional getaways like the Fawcett Lake campground.
Roles and Responsibilities

The Smith Bridge is at risk of collapse due to the severe erosion of ground cover underneath pier 3. The ground cover is engineered to be 2.5 meters into the river bed, but it is now only 0.5 metres at this point. That pier is in danger of washing out during a high-water event. If this were to happen while traffic is on the bridge, it would be catastrophic.

Locals and out-of-towners alike rely on the Smith Bridge to access gorgeous regional getaways like the Fawcett Lake campground.
How does a structure as large as the Smith Bridge get built?
With a bridge of this size, it's standard practice for municipalities to receive funding from the provincial government when it comes time to replace them.
The MD is responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the Smith Bridge — but when it needs to be replaced, we lobby the Province for funding. Rural municipalities simply do not have the tax base to fund projects like these.
Stakeholder Perspectives
A window of opportunity exists for the MD’s thriving oil & gas sector to offset the Smith Bridge rebuild costs. However, this opportunity will not exist forever.
