The
Humber Bay Arch Bridge (also known as the
Humber River Arch Bridge, the Humber River
Pedestrian Bridge, or the Gateway Bridge)
is a pedestrian and bicycle double Compression arch
suspended-deck bridge south of Lake Shore Boulevard West in Toronto
,
Canada. Completed in the mid-1990s, the bridge is in length,
with a clear span of over the mouth of the
Humber River to protect the
environmental integrity of the waterway.
Design
Humber Bay Arch Bridge as seen from
the bike trail that runs underneath the bridge
The Humber as it exits into Lake
Ontario
The bridge is constructed of two diameter high-strength steel
pipes, bent into twin arches that rise above grade, and suspend the
deck by way of 44 stainless-steel hangars, each in diameter. The
foundation consists of concrete-filled caissons which go down below
grade to the bedrock.
Designed in 1994 by Montgomery and Sisam Architects of Toronto and
Delcan Corporation (bridge engineers), it was constructed by
Sonterland Construction, and
is the recipient of numerous local architectural, design and
engineering awards.
The bridge connects the former municipalities
of "Old
Toronto"
and Etobicoke
(both now part of the amalgamated City of Toronto)
along an ancient aboriginal trading route along the shore of
Lake
Ontario
, and thus features design elements and decorations
such as carved turtles and canoes that evoke this native
heritage.
The bridge forms an important pedestrian and recreational link, and
carries the
Waterfront Trail, a
multi-use pathway that will eventually parallel the entire north
shore of Lake Ontario. The Toronto section is known as the Martin
Goodman Trail, and is one of the most popular pedestrian and
cycling routes in the city.
Previous bridge
The original bridge built on this site fell in 1978. This design is
based on the original.
References
Wikis
Map
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