Prince Edward Viaduct
Encyclopedia
The Prince Edward Viaduct System, commonly referred to as the Bloor Viaduct or the viaduct, is the name of a truss arch bridge
system in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
that connects Bloor Street
East, on the west side of the system, with Danforth Avenue
on the east. The Don Valley phase of the system, the most recognizable, spans the Don River Valley, crossing over (from west to east) the Bayview Avenue
Extension, the Don River, and the Don Valley Parkway
.
The Prince Edward Viaduct system also includes the Rosedale Valley
phase (a smaller bridge carrying Bloor Street over the Rosedale
Ravine and referred to as the Rosedale Valley Bridge) and the Sherbourne Phase, an embankment
built to extend Bloor Street East to the Rosedale Ravine from Sherbourne Street.
The Bloor Street-Rosedale Valley Bridge is a western extension of the Prince Edward Viaduct. The bridge, officially known as the Rosedale Valley Phase of the Prince Edward Viaduct System, runs west of the Bloor Street Viaduct and ends west of Parliament Street. The bridge stone work is similar to the Bloor Street Viaduct and another bridge on O'Connor Drive (over Taylor Creek) to the east of the Don River.
The roadway has five lanes (three eastbound and two westbound) with a bike lane in each direction. The subway
level connects Broadview
Station in the east with Castle Frank
and Sherbourne
Stations to the west.
, with a total span of 494 metres at 40 metres above the Don Valley. The bridge consists of a deck, made up of transverse beams and I-girders, which transfer load to column supports. The column supports then transfer the load to the trusses within the arches, which transfer the load to the arches themselves. Finally, the arches transfer their load through large hinges, which transfer load to a concrete pillar, and eventually to the ground.
In addition to the Don River, the Don Valley Parkway
, Bayview Avenue
, two railway lines, an electrical transmission line, and a bicycle trail all pass under the bridge spans.
Referendums on the construction of the Prince Edward Viaduct were held in Toronto in every year from 1910 to 1913, with residents voting against its construction in 1912 by 59 votes and in favour in 1913 by 9236 votes. The projected cost of its construction increased from CDN$
759,000 in 1910 to CDN$2.5 million in 1913; its final cost was CDN$2,480,349.05 ($ in dollars). Upon its completion in 1918, it was named for the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII
.
It was designed to facilitate mass transit
; its upper deck accommodated trams, while both the Don Valley phase and the Rosedale Valley phase included a lower deck for rail transport, controversial at the time because of its high additional cost. The bridge's designer and the commissioner of public works R.C. Harris were able to have their way, and the lower deck eventually proved to save millions of dollars when the Toronto Transit Commission
's Bloor–Danforth subway, opened in 1966, was able to use the Don Valley phase with no major structural changes to cross the Don River Valley. (The Rosedale Valley phase was not used, as the curve between each phase - as well as the curve to the west at Parliament Street - was considered too sharp for the subway; a separate bridge was built over Rosedale Valley west of the Castle Frank Subway Station
at the west end of the Bloor–Danforth Viaduct). This covered subway bridge was designed by John B. Parkin and Associates with Delcan Cater & Co. and completed in 1966.
's subway system
in the 1960s was significantly facilitated by the viaduct architect's decision to have a lower deck on the bridge.
With nearly 500 suicides by 2003, the Viaduct ranked as the second most fatal standing structure in the world, after the Golden Gate Bridge
in San Francisco
. At its peak in 1997, the suicide rate averaged one person every 22 days. This prompted the construction of a suicide barrier in 2003 called the Luminous Veil
.
A 2010 study found that though the barrier prevented suicide attempts from the Viaduct, overall rates of suicide by jumping for the city of Toronto have not changed since its construction.
Designed by architect Derek Revington and engineers at Halcrow Yolles, and completed in 2003 at the cost of C$5.5 million
, the Luminous Veil
consists of over 9,000 steel rods, 12.7 cm apart and 5 m high, stretched to cantilevered girders to function as a suicide barrier. At the same time as the construction of the Luminous Veil, the bridge also underwent a renovation with the water proofing and concrete deterioration being replaced. While awaiting approval of the barrier and during construction, which was subject to numerous delays, 48 to 60 suicides took place at the bridge. The Luminous Veil received the 1999 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence.
Truss arch bridge
A truss arch bridge combines the elements of the truss bridge and the arch bridge. The actual resolution of forces will depend upon the design. If no horizontal thrusting forces are generated this becomes an arch-shaped truss, essentially a bent beam — see moon bridge for an example...
system in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that connects Bloor Street
Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue continues along the same...
East, on the west side of the system, with Danforth Avenue
Danforth Avenue
Danforth Avenue is an east-west arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its western end begins in Old Toronto from the Prince Edward Viaduct as a continuation of Bloor Street and continues through East York until intersecting with Kingston Road in Scarborough...
on the east. The Don Valley phase of the system, the most recognizable, spans the Don River Valley, crossing over (from west to east) the Bayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue is a major north-south route in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. North of Toronto, in York Region, Bayview is also designated as York Regional Road 34.-History:...
Extension, the Don River, and the Don Valley Parkway
Don Valley Parkway
The Don Valley Parkway is a controlled-access six-lane municipal expressway in Toronto connecting the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto with Ontario Highway 401, the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway. North of Highway 401, it continues as Ontario Highway 404. The parkway runs through...
.
The Prince Edward Viaduct system also includes the Rosedale Valley
Castle Frank Brook
Castle Frank Brook is a buried creek and south-west flowing tributary of the Don River in central and north-western Toronto, Ontario, originating near the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Dufferin Street....
phase (a smaller bridge carrying Bloor Street over the Rosedale
Rosedale, Toronto
Rosedale is an affluent neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which was formerly the estate of William Botsford Jarvis, and so named by his wife, granddaughter of William Dummer Powell, for the wild roses that grew there in abundance....
Ravine and referred to as the Rosedale Valley Bridge) and the Sherbourne Phase, an embankment
Embankment (transportation)
To keep a road or railway line straight or flat, and where the comparative cost or practicality of alternate solutions is prohibitive, the land over which the road or rail line will travel is built up to form an embankment. An embankment is therefore in some sense the opposite of a cutting, and...
built to extend Bloor Street East to the Rosedale Ravine from Sherbourne Street.
The Bloor Street-Rosedale Valley Bridge is a western extension of the Prince Edward Viaduct. The bridge, officially known as the Rosedale Valley Phase of the Prince Edward Viaduct System, runs west of the Bloor Street Viaduct and ends west of Parliament Street. The bridge stone work is similar to the Bloor Street Viaduct and another bridge on O'Connor Drive (over Taylor Creek) to the east of the Don River.
The roadway has five lanes (three eastbound and two westbound) with a bike lane in each direction. The subway
Toronto subway and RT
The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
level connects Broadview
Broadview (TTC)
Broadview is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 90 Danforth Avenue and Broadview Avenue.Broadview is the north-eastern terminus of the 504 King and 505 Dundas streetcar routes.-History:...
Station in the east with Castle Frank
Castle Frank (TTC)
Castle Frank is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 600 Bloor Street East at Castle Frank Road, near the former location of Viaduct streetcar loop, which was the longtime terminus of the Parliament streetcar.-Entrances:*The main entrance to...
and Sherbourne
Sherbourne (TTC)
Sherbourne is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the Toronto subway and RT. It was opened in 1966 and is located at 420 Bloor Street East at Sherbourne Street. The station primarily serves the St...
Stations to the west.
Design
Designed by Edmund W. Burke, the Prince Edward Viaduct is a three hinged concrete-steel arch bridgeArch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
, with a total span of 494 metres at 40 metres above the Don Valley. The bridge consists of a deck, made up of transverse beams and I-girders, which transfer load to column supports. The column supports then transfer the load to the trusses within the arches, which transfer the load to the arches themselves. Finally, the arches transfer their load through large hinges, which transfer load to a concrete pillar, and eventually to the ground.
In addition to the Don River, the Don Valley Parkway
Don Valley Parkway
The Don Valley Parkway is a controlled-access six-lane municipal expressway in Toronto connecting the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto with Ontario Highway 401, the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway. North of Highway 401, it continues as Ontario Highway 404. The parkway runs through...
, Bayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue
Bayview Avenue is a major north-south route in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. North of Toronto, in York Region, Bayview is also designated as York Regional Road 34.-History:...
, two railway lines, an electrical transmission line, and a bicycle trail all pass under the bridge spans.
Construction
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
759,000 in 1910 to CDN$2.5 million in 1913; its final cost was CDN$2,480,349.05 ($ in dollars). Upon its completion in 1918, it was named for the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
.
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
; its upper deck accommodated trams, while both the Don Valley phase and the Rosedale Valley phase included a lower deck for rail transport, controversial at the time because of its high additional cost. The bridge's designer and the commissioner of public works R.C. Harris were able to have their way, and the lower deck eventually proved to save millions of dollars when the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
's Bloor–Danforth subway, opened in 1966, was able to use the Don Valley phase with no major structural changes to cross the Don River Valley. (The Rosedale Valley phase was not used, as the curve between each phase - as well as the curve to the west at Parliament Street - was considered too sharp for the subway; a separate bridge was built over Rosedale Valley west of the Castle Frank Subway Station
Castle Frank (TTC)
Castle Frank is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 600 Bloor Street East at Castle Frank Road, near the former location of Viaduct streetcar loop, which was the longtime terminus of the Parliament streetcar.-Entrances:*The main entrance to...
at the west end of the Bloor–Danforth Viaduct). This covered subway bridge was designed by John B. Parkin and Associates with Delcan Cater & Co. and completed in 1966.
Growth of Toronto
The Prince Edward Viaduct has had two major impacts on the development of Toronto as a city. First, the construction of the Prince Edward Viaduct resulted in more rapid development of those portions of Toronto lying on the east side of the Don Valley. Secondly, the construction of the Bloor–Danforth line of the Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
's subway system
Toronto subway and RT
The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
in the 1960s was significantly facilitated by the viaduct architect's decision to have a lower deck on the bridge.
Suicides and accidental falls
At the time of the construction of the viaduct, suicide was not considered to be a major social issue, and as such the bridge design did not include any means for the prevention of suicides. As suicide became more prevalent in society, and with an increase in the city population, the Prince Edward Viaduct became a magnet for suicide, as people could easily jump over its low railings. This not only posed a risk to the lives of the jumpers, but also to the traffic underneath, which was in danger of being hit by a falling body. It was also possible for a child to climb onto the railing and fall accidentally while walking along it.With nearly 500 suicides by 2003, the Viaduct ranked as the second most fatal standing structure in the world, after the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. At its peak in 1997, the suicide rate averaged one person every 22 days. This prompted the construction of a suicide barrier in 2003 called the Luminous Veil
Luminous Veil
The Luminous Veil is an anti-suicide barrier that was added to the Prince Edward Viaduct in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. First approved by the Toronto City Council in 1998, the construction of the Luminous Veil was delayed for years because of concerns about funding. During the delays in...
.
A 2010 study found that though the barrier prevented suicide attempts from the Viaduct, overall rates of suicide by jumping for the city of Toronto have not changed since its construction.
Designed by architect Derek Revington and engineers at Halcrow Yolles, and completed in 2003 at the cost of C$5.5 million
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
, the Luminous Veil
Luminous Veil
The Luminous Veil is an anti-suicide barrier that was added to the Prince Edward Viaduct in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. First approved by the Toronto City Council in 1998, the construction of the Luminous Veil was delayed for years because of concerns about funding. During the delays in...
consists of over 9,000 steel rods, 12.7 cm apart and 5 m high, stretched to cantilevered girders to function as a suicide barrier. At the same time as the construction of the Luminous Veil, the bridge also underwent a renovation with the water proofing and concrete deterioration being replaced. While awaiting approval of the barrier and during construction, which was subject to numerous delays, 48 to 60 suicides took place at the bridge. The Luminous Veil received the 1999 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence.
Appearance in popular culture
- The construction of the bridge was used as a setting for the historical fiction of Michael OndaatjeMichael OndaatjePhilip Michael Ondaatje , OC, is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian novelist and poet of Burgher origin. He is perhaps best known for his Booker Prize-winning novel, The English Patient, which was adapted into an Academy-Award-winning film.-Life and work:...
's novel In the Skin of a LionIn the Skin of a LionIn the Skin of a Lion is a novel by Canadian/Sri Lankan writer Michael Ondaatje. It was first published in 1987 by McClelland and Stewart. The novel fictionalises the lives of the immigrants whose contributions to building Toronto in the early 1900s never became part of the city's official history...
. - A scene from the movie Resident Evil: ApocalypseResident Evil: ApocalypseResident Evil: Apocalypse is a Canadian-British 2004 science fiction action horror film directed by Alexander Witt, from a screenplay written by producer Paul W.S. Anderson...
was filmed on the Viaduct. - The song War On Drugs by the Barenaked LadiesBarenaked LadiesBarenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
was inspired by, and refers to, the Viaduct. - The humorous song Anything could happen by Bruce CockburnBruce CockburnBruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
opens with "You could have gone off the Bloor Street Viaduct". - The bridge plays a key role in the play In Gabriel's KitchenIn Gabriel's KitchenIn Gabriel's Kitchen is the debut play of Salvatore Antonio, centering on an Italian-Canadian family's reaction to their son's homosexuality. For Gabriel, the youngest son, falling in love leads to decisions which cannot be reversed...
by Salvatore AntonioSalvatore AntonioSalvatore Antonio is a Canadian actor and playwright. He was born to Italian-immigrant parents...
, which is set before construction of the Luminous Veil. - In a Degrassi Junior HighDegrassi Junior HighDegrassi Junior High is a Canadian CBC Television teen drama series that was produced from 1987-1989 as part of the Degrassi series. The show followed the lives of a group of students attending the titular fictional school...
episode titled Dog Days, the character Stephanie KayeStephanie KayeStephanie Kaye is a fictional character on the Degrassi Junior High television series. She was portrayed by Nicole Stoffman.-Background:...
contemplates jumping off the Viaduct to commit suicide. Her brother Arthur later talks her out of it. - In the SpoonsSpoons (band)Spoons are a Canadian New Wave new romantic synth pop music group, formed in 1979 in Burlington, Ontario. They recorded several Canadian chart hits between 1982 and 1989, and in 1983, they won Group of the Year at the U-Know awards...
music video for Romantic TrafficRomantic trafficRomantic Traffic is the title of a song written by the Canadian band The Spoons and released in 1984 as a single . It was also featured in the 1994 album Collectible Spoons. The music video was shot entirely in Toronto's subway system....
, lead singer Gordon Deppe looks out from the Viaduct as the TTC subway train he is in passes through it. - The film Saint MonicaSaint Monica (film)Saint Monica is a 2002 Canadian film written and directed by Terrance Odette. It was nominated for Best Lead Performance by a Female actress in a Feature Length Drama at the 2002 Leo Awards and won Best Achievement in Music for an Original Song at the 2003 Genie Awards.-Plot:Saint Monica is the...
, set in Toronto, prominently features the Viaduct. - The song "National Hum" by The ConstantinesThe Constantines-History:The band was formed by Steve Lambke, Bryan Webb, Doug MacGregor, and Dallas Wehrle in 1999, following the break-up of Webb and MacGregor's emotional hardcore band Shoulder...
refers to the construction of the Luminous Veil: "Your mayor is raising fences to keep bodies off the Don Valley Parkway."