The winner of Ponoka's bridge naming contest was presented his prize during Town Council this week.  

Lee Jensen who was born in Ponoka submitted the name Siding 14 Crossing which dates back to the town's early history and was the very first name given to the town when the railway first arrived in 1891.

The location was the 14th stop along the rail line between Calgary and Edmonton.  

Jensen says he feels lucky to be the one chosen out of 165 submissions and out of 10 others who submitted the same name or similar variations.

“I looked at two historical books from the Ponoka area, Panorama and then there’s an old one from Ponoka’s 50th anniversary in 1954. Siding 14 looked like the name to go with and I couldn’t make up my mind if I wanted to call it Siding 14 Bridge or Siding 14 Crossing and I decided to go with Siding 14 Crossing.“

The Judges Panel decided to place identical submissions into a hat to draw a winner.

The new bridge crosses the river just north of where the original Siding 14 railway platform was located, which is now the Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot.

Siding 14 was a supply point for steam locomotives making the 12 hour Edmonton to Calgary run.

The new bridge replaced the old green bridge that served Ponoka for more than 100 years and was opened to traffic and pedestrians in August of this year.

Jensen won a $200 Town of Ponoka gift certificate that can be applied toward a Ponoka Aquaplex membership or a Town of Ponoka utility bill credit.