Old Eastern Avenue Bridge

Old Eastern Avenue Bridge
The southern side of the bridge
Carries	Unused
Crosses	Don River
Total length	~45 metres (148 ft)
Width	~19 metres (62 ft)
Coordinates	43°39′20″N 79°21′06″W / 43.655577°N 79.351762°W / 43.655577; -79.351762Coordinates: 43°39′20″N 79°21′06″W / 43.655577°N 79.351762°W / 43.655577; -79.351762

The Old Eastern Avenue Bridge is actually two bridges spanning the Don River in Toronto, Canada. The southern bridge is unused but once carried traffic on Eastern Avenue. The north bridge is a concrete arch bridge and is used by Enbridge Gas to carry a major gas main and the south a Truss bridge similar to Queen Street Bridge or Bathurst Street Bridge.

History

The bridge was built in 1933 replacing an older wooden bridge that had been damaged by ice on the Don River. The original cost was $70,864.07. The bridge was abandoned in 1964 after the construction of the Don Valley Parkway. A new onramp was built to the north, connecting with Eastern. The highway was also placed directly east of the bridge and through traffic would have required a new bridge and overpass to cross it. With the Eastern onramp just to the north and the new Gardiner Expressway just to the south it was decided that a bridge was unnecessary at that point in the river. The bridge was thus disconnected from the road network. It was also fenced in to block pedestrians as the highway and the rail lines are both considered hazardous. The city considered demolishing it, but found that it would be more expensive than simply maintaining it. The city continues to inspect the bridge.

References

• "Dead little bridges, like the steel truss-strengthened span on Eastern Avenue, can put an urban explorer in a melancholy mood." John Bentley Mays. The Globe and Mail. Feb 15, 1995. pg. C.3
• "Spans recall past Bridges to nowhere rest unnoticed beside Toronto expressway." Donald Grant. The Globe and Mail. Apr 30, 1984. pg. M.3

External links

• Aerial view
• Hybrid view