Lone Primate
Active Member
Some views of the East Don River from the 401 southward toward Duncan Mills Road, from about seven or eight years ago.
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Urban Wilderness!
- Thread starter EVCco
- Start date
Lone Primate
Active Member
This used to be the bridge that carried Bayview Avenue (if it was even called that yet) over the West Don River. I'm not sure when it was built but I have photo of it from the turn of the last century, so by now it's well over a century old. It's within sight of the current Bayview Ave. bridge at Lawrence Avenue. In fact, in winter, you can look down from the east side and see it. I'm glad they've left it. The city archives has a number of shots of this bridge from the early 60s when the Bayview Avenue bridge beside it was being widened.
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Lone Primate
Active Member
This is Lion's Gate Park at the meeting of Sixteen Mile Creek and Dundas Street (Hwy 5). These shots were taken in 2007 before the bridge in the view was taken down and replaced.
Mustapha
Senior Member
This used to be the bridge that carried Bayview Avenue (if it was even called that yet) over the West Don River. I'm not sure when it was built but I have photo of it from the turn of the last century, so by now it's well over a century old. It's within site of the current Bayview Ave. bridge at Lawrence Avenue. In fact, in winter, you can look down from the east side and see it. I'm glad they've left it. The city archives has a number of shots of this bridge from the early 60s when the Bayview Avenue bridge beside it was being widened.
A plaque and a cleanup/high pressure wash would suit this structure so much. A shame it is derelict.
PopsiclePetesCajunHoedown
Banned
Covering that bridge in stone would make the scenic quality all the more memorable and picturesque.
PopsiclePetesCajunHoedown
Banned
Where exactly is this bridge located? On the east side of Bayview, by The Cheddington?
Lone Primate
Active Member
It is a charming little thing. I have a photo of it from around the turn of the last century in a book about North York I own. I'm surprised they didn't remove it in the early 1960s. I think it was of some use even at the time; maps I have hint that it still led to some access on the north side of the river at least as late as the 50s, and it was used by the construction workers widening the current Bayview Avenue bridge in the 60s, which is also when I believe they put up the retaining steelwork you see on the northwest side. Seems odd that they'd do something to help the bridge survive, but then completely abandon it to the elements.
But, it's still there. It's a bit of a chore to get to; they keep rebuilding the fence at the end of Lawrence. But if you're willing to wade upstream a bit, the Don's accessible from the parking lot. You can also climb down the hill from the south side if you park up at the university.
Lone Primate
Active Member
Yeah, it's right here.
Here's how it looks, viewed from the current bridge. This view looks basically east, more or less along Lawrence Avenue to where it ends at the original road allowance of Bayview Avenue. That's the old bridge there hugging the river.
What I'm burning to know is if there was ever a direct route back up the north side. I strongly believe there was, but I can't say for sure, or whether it was straight as an arrow up the other side, or wandered along to the west around the land form to get back up to the top. That I would love to know.
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Mustapha
Senior Member
At least you knew of it, and took us on this virtual tour, so that we may see and think of it and perhaps make a pilgrimage.
Nice infrared treatment too.
Abandoned roads and bridges tug at my emotions - in this state they evoke emotions of permanence, and conflictingly, fleetingness.
brewster
Active Member
Yeah, it's right here.
Here's how it looks, viewed from the current bridge. This view looks basically east, more or less along Lawrence Avenue to where it ends at the original road allowance of Bayview Avenue. That's the old bridge there hugging the river.
What I'm burning to know is if there was ever a direct route back up the north side. I strongly believe there was, but I can't say for sure, or whether it was straight as an arrow up the other side, or wandered along to the west around the land form to get back up to the top. That I would love to know.
I don't know if these help Lone from the Toronto Archives , have a look.
Capture 3 by TORONTO TONTO, on Flickr
Capture 2 by TORONTO TONTO, on Flickr
Capture by TORONTO TONTO, on Flickr
PopsiclePetesCajunHoedown
Banned
Thanks. I've been to the bottom of Lawrence Ave East, several times to smoke some doobies and had no idea how close the bridge was.
Anna
Active Member
Does this help? - 1931 Topographic map - Bayview & Lawrence at the top. I would say the answer is b) wandered along to the west around the land form to get back up to the top
When was the 'new' bridge built? - this map seems to show both the route over and the route through the valley.
Note that further south Bayview also took a less direct route over Burke Brook.
Here's the 'new' Bayview bridge before it was widened in the 60s.
Anna
Active Member
If you walk along this path that runs along the Don south of Lawrence, there are a couple of bridges off to the east - one is fenced off. I can't figure out why they are there.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=43.726561,-79.37017&hl=en&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=0&z=17
http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=43.726561,-79.37017&hl=en&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=0&z=17
Lone Primate
Active Member
The city archives has some great shots of, and even from, the old bridge during the widening of the new one. These photos date from December, 1960, or thereabouts.
I like this first one... you can see that workmen actually parked their cars on the old bridge.
I like this first one... you can see that workmen actually parked their cars on the old bridge.
DSC
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There is also the old Eastern Avenue bridge over the lower Don that was blocked off when the DVP was built and the Easatern Avenue Diversion bridge built. It is accessible from the Don River cycle path but blocked off on the east side at the DVP (of course.) It's immediately south of the Enbridge gas pipe bridge. When the TRCA were doing the Don River studies a few years ago they discussed removing it but decided it was not doing any harm and it would cost $$ to do so and it remains - and looks as though it will survice another few decades.