Toronto Bridges

A photographic survey of Toronto Bridges

Toronto is not a city known for its bridges. Unlike New York or Pittsburgh (to use only two examples), our city's iconography doesn't seem to feature these structures particularly prominently. The exception, of course, is thePrince Edward Viaduct, which has certainly captured the public's imagination, thanks no doubt to its role in uniting the east and west sides of the city and its portrayal in Michael Ondaatje'sIn the Skin of a Lion.

But aside from the Viaduct, Toronto's bridges are generally more subtle structures. Most aren't particularly long or high, many are downright anonymous, and some could be characterized as ugly (though I suppose the latter characteristic is true of every city's inventory). Nevertheless, if one cares to dwell upon the subject for a while, it's not difficult to come up with a photo-worthy list of Toronto bridges.

In fact, when I took to this very task last night, I was surprised at the sheer number I could recall off the top of my head. Not really hidden, many of Toronto's bridges are linked to the ravines that line the city, and so aren't always seen from their most dramatic angles. Similarly, railway overpasses may not always seem like much to look at, but they've played a crucial role in Toronto's growth. We've also lost a few over the years to buried creeks and other types of development. And while not always grand in a Brooklyn Bridge type of way, in numerous cases, our bridges are beautiful in their own right.

Spadina Bridge at Front Street 1927

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(Toronto Archives)

CPR overpasses

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(photo by the author)

Centre Island

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(photo bysyncros)

The Gardiner Expressway

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(photo by*Imperialis*)

Bathurst Street Bridge 1916

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(Toronto Archives)

Queen Street Viaduct under construction 1911

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(Toronto Archives)

Glen Cedar Bridge

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(Toronto Archives)

Pedestrian bridge connecting the Bay and Eaton Centre

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(photo bytomms)

St. Clair Bridge 1924

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(Toronto Archives)

Cherry Street Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge

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(photo byAshtonPal)

地铁扩展了Prince Edward Viaduct

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(photo byMichael Mitchner)

Summerhill CPR Bridge

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(photo bySt-Even)

Bloor Street Humber Bridge

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(photo byHamish Grant)

Taxiway Tango

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(photo byTom Podelec)

Mimico Creek Pedestrian Bridge

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(photo byandyscamera)

Humber Bay Arch Bridge

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(photo by416style).

Leaside Bridge 1927

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(Toronto Archives)

The Luminous Veil - Prince Edward Viaduct

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(photo byNow and Here)

Crawford Street Bridge - now buried

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(Toronto Archives)

Harbord Bridge - now buried

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(Toronto Archives)


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