Cherry Street lift bridge

For other uses, see Cherry Street Bridge.
Cherry Street lift bridge

Cherry Street lift bridge over the Keating Channel in 2008
Coordinates 43°38′51″N 79°21′15″W / 43.64750°N 79.35417°W / 43.64750; -79.35417Coordinates: 43°38′51″N 79°21′15″W / 43.64750°N 79.35417°W / 43.64750; -79.35417
Carries vehicluar and pedestrian
Crosses Keating Channel
Locale Toronto
Owner City of Toronto
Maintained by Toronto Port Authority
Characteristics
Design Bascule
Material Steel
Total length 29 metres
Clearance above 48 metres
Clearance below Keating Channel
History
Architect R. M. Bremner
Designer R. M. Bremner
Engineering design by R. M. Bremner, City of Toronto engineer
W. Sefton & Associates, Structural Engineer
Constructed by Ruliff Grass Construction Co. Ltd
Construction end 1968
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cherry Street lift bridge.

The Cherry Street lift bridge over the Keating Channel is the smaller of two bascule lift bridges on Cherry Street, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The bridge spans the canalized mouth of the Don River where it empties into Toronto Harbour. It is the fourth bridge at that location.

As originally constructed the bridge supported two lanes of traffic in each direction, and had a 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) sidewalk on the west side.[1] In 1995 several changes were made to provide "enhanced safety for cyclists, skaters and pedestrians." As built the entire deck of the bridge, including the sidewalk, was a steel mesh. In 1995 vehicle traffic was restricted to one lane in each direction to make room for a 2 metres (6.6 ft) sidewalk on the east side of the bridge, and the expansion of the sidewalk on the west side to 3.6 metres (12 ft) so it could accommodate bicycles as well as pedestrians. The sidewalks were faced with a non-slip plastic fibreglass surface.

In 2006 an inspection showed that the bridge required CAD$2 million in repairs to corrosion damage.[2] The repairs were completed in April 2007. Key bearings in the bridge broke in 2010, it took time for replacement bearings to be found in Sweden.[3] The bridge wasn't restored to working order until June 27, 2011.

The City of Toronto's long term plans are to "renaturalize" the mouth of the Don River.[4] Under this plan the Keating Channel will be retained, due to its historic value, but a new more natural appearing channel would be constructed south of the Keating Channel. There are plans to replace the bridge.[5]

History

The City of Toronto once operated a swing bridge over the Keating Channel at or near Cherry Street. The current bridge, constructed in 1968, is a vehicle and pedestrian bascule bridge, with a metal mesh deck. The original swing bridge was a made of wood, and only carried a single rail line, operated by the Grand Trunk Railway.

The City solicited bid for the first swing bridge in 1896.[6] Contractors were allowed to propose either a metal or wood bridge.

The Privy Council of Canada approved funding of the bridge in 1900.[7]

The two spans were 52 feet (16 m) long, which was considered sufficient to accommodate navigation on the river."

The wooden bridge was replaced by steel draw bridges in 1912 and 1932.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Virginia M. West (1998-05-20). "Cherry Street Bridge - Enhanced Safety for Cyclists, Skaters and Pedestrians". City of Toronto. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  2. ↑ "Cherry Street Lift Bridge over the Keating Channel Structural Rehabilitation" (PDF). City of Toronto. 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  3. ↑ Peter Kuitenbrouwer (2011-07-30). "Old hands keep the Don flowing smoothly". National Post. Archived from the original on 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2012-01-02. The port can haul sludge out of the channel and into the lake only when the Cherry Street lift bridge is in its up position. In 2010, the lift bridge broke and the port could do no dredging at all.
  4. ↑ "Lower Don Lands Official Plan Amendments and Keating Channel Precinct West Zoning By-Law – Final Report" (PDF). City of Toronto. 2010-08-11. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  5. ↑ "Toronto Port Lands Company – Revitalization Opportunities for the Port Lands – Supplementary Report" (PDF). City of Toronto. 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  6. ↑ "Notice to Contractors: Cherry Street Swing Bridge". Daily Mail and Empire. 1896-07-28. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
  7. ↑ "425q". Privy Council (Canada). 1900. Media related to File:Order in Council authorizing the Cherry Street Swing Bridge.jpg at Wikimedia Commons
  8. ↑ http://www.trca.on.ca/dotAsset/93559.pdf
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/21/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.