All Port Lands Bridges Open: Celebrate the Arch-ievement
Funding provided through the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a…bridge on a barge? Everyone expected that the naturalization of downtown Toronto, Ontario’s Don River mouth, part of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project, would involve several twists and turns – literally, it has constructed a new curvy river valley that is already home to native species – but few imagined the journey of its new bridges. Fully assembled, the bridges travelled by barge from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to their final destination in Toronto, Ontario via the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Did you know?
The project combines flood protection, ecological restoration with development, transportation, and infrastructure, all centered around a revitalized river mouth.
Designed and engineered by Entuitive, Grimshaw and Schlaich Bergermann, Halifax-based Cherubini Metal Works built the bridges. The steel is Canadian with the exception of the 3D shell components. Best of all, these new bridges support active transportation and public transit and will contribute to a healthy future community on Villiers Island.
About the Port Lands Flood Protection Project
In addition to creating a naturalized river valley, the Port Lands Flood Protection Project involves building new public spaces, roads, bridges, and utilities, as well as flood protection elements and structures to control water flow and manage sediment and debris.
Improvements will help protect Toronto’s Port Lands from flooding and lay the groundwork to transform the underused industrial area into a vibrant and resilient downtown neighbourhood. Villiers Island will be a vibrant community with housing, parks and a range of transportation options. The project will also provide critical flood protection by creating a naturalized mouth for the Don River, clean up contaminated soil, unlock land ripe for development, and establish new aquatic habitats and wetlands that support native species.
Quick facts:
- Commissioners Street Bridge: This orange and white bridge has two arches and is the longest of the four bridges.
- Cherry Street North Bridges: This location has two bridges, both red and white. The wider bridge will carry vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists and the narrow one is dedicated to transit.
- Cherry Street South Bridge: This yellow and white bridge is vital to connecting Villiers Island and was the third to arrive.
For more information, visit:
Report a problem on this page
- Date modified: