The Bloor Viaduct is a truss arch bridge system located in Toronto, Canada. It is a major transportation artery that spans the Don River Valley and connects the east and west sides of the city. The bridge was constructed between 1914 and 1918 and was designed by engineers Horace Roupe and Gustav Hahn.
The Bloor Viaduct comprises two parallel bridges with an independent truss arch system. The structure is made of steel and was built using the cantilever method. This involved building the bridge from both ends until the two halves met in the middle, at which point the truss arches were put in place.
The truss arches are made of steel beams arranged in a triangle shape. The arches provide stability and support to the bridge, which spans over 300 meters in length. The steel beams were made at the Canadian Bridge Company in Walkerville, Ontario and transported to the construction site for assembly.
Construction of the Bloor Viaduct took four years and was completed in 1918. The City of Toronto managed the project and involved hundreds of workers, including engineers, ironworkers, and laborers. The total cost of construction was approximately $3.5 million dollars.
The Bloor Viaduct is considered an engineering marvel and one of Toronto’s most iconic bridges. It is a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the engineers and workers who built it. It continues to serve as an essential transportation artery for the city. The bridge has undergone several renovations over the years to ensure its longevity, including adding a pedestrian walkway and installing a new deck in the 1990s.
