6.7K 
Today, Toronto marks a significant milestone with the public opening of two landmark bridges in the Port Lands. The Cherry Street North and Commissioners Street Bridges, part of Waterfront Toronto's ambitious $1.3 billion revitalization project, are now open to the public. They provide multimodal access — including future streetcar routes — to the Villiers Island neighbourhood.
Designed by Entuitive, schlaich bergermann partner (sbp), and Grimshaw Architects, their completion is a key component of Waterfront Toronto's Port Lands Flood Protection Enabling Infrastructure (PLFPEI) project, which aims to transform 500 acres of previously underused land into a thriving urban space.
Michael Meschino, Principal at Entuitive, expressed his satisfaction with the project, highlighting the collaborative efforts of sbp, Grimshaw, and construction partners at EllisDon. "The creation of crucial infrastructure will be a truly remarkable transformation," Meschino stated.
The Cherry Street North Bridge, a single-span structure, and the four-span Commissioners Street Bridge join the Cherry Street South Bridge in forming a unified and innovative network of crossings. These bridges act as conduits for vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic, but are also set to become landmarks in their own right.
Their designs, which have earned North American and European accolades including recognition by the Institution of Structural Engineers and the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations, aptly bridge aesthetics and functionality. Their sleek, flowing curves are visually compelling and incorporate a hybrid shell-arch structure, optimizing material efficiency and adapting to the unique environmental and foundational challenges of the area.
Juan Porral, Partner at Grimshaw, emphasized the role of these bridges in enhancing community connectivity, serving "both as functional infrastructures and as engaging landmarks that improve the quality of the built environment."
Jonathan Werner, Senior Associate at Entuitive, reflected on the project's journey: "There have been many challenges which brought opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Seeing the Port Land Bridges open to the public for them to use and enjoy makes it all worthwhile.” The design team strived to reference the rich history of Toronto’s waterfront while supporting a future-oriented, liveable neighbourhood.
In our ongoing coverage of the redevelopment of the Lower Don Lands, UrbanToronto recently highlighted wintertime construction updates in the area, featuring Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates' award-winning designs. The Port Lands has been gradually evolving into a vibrant hub, centred around the re-naturalized mouth of the Don River. Recent updates showcased the near-completion of the newly opened bridges.
With the construction in the Lower Don Lands to continue throughout 2024 and the projected completion date set for the end of the year, the Port Lands Bridges represent a key milestone. These structures herald changes in traffic patterns, enhancing connectivity and accessibility in the evolving landscape by the renewed mouth of the Don River.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
| Related Companies: | LEA Consulting, Priestly Demolition Inc. |
