Retro-futuristic Toronto bridge is about to be demolished for good
A distinctive bridge spanning a major Scarborough artery is about to disappear forever as part of the Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE) project.
Now well under construction, the SSE will extend the TTC's Line 2 Bloor-Danforth by 7.8 kilometres from the current eastern terminus at Kennedy Station to a new end point at Sheppard Avenue East and McCowan Road.
As part of the new Scarborough Centre Station being constructed for the extension, Metrolinx is preparing to take down the Progress Avenue bridge that leads to the Scarborough Town Centre over McCowan Road, inclusive of its futuristic (for the era it was constructed) weatherproof pedestrian crossing accessing the now-closed SRT station to the west.
In preparation for the demolition activity, the Bushby Drive and Progress Avenue ramps to McCowan Road were permanently shuttered to vehicle traffic on July 12, with teardown expected to continue until early September.
The main bridge structure carrying Progress Avenue into the shopping centre lands is scheduled to close permanently on August 16.
Once the bridge is closed off to vehicular traffic, crews will commence work on removing asphalt, street lighting and other fixtures, before taking samples of concrete and soil for analysis.
Metrolinx.
A ramp to Bushby Drive was closed in mid-July along with the SRT pedestrian bridge, and will be demolished over a period lasting between August 26 and September 18.
Demolition of the main bridge carrying Progress Avenue is scheduled to occur over the Labour Day weekend, from August 30 to September 3.
Metrolinx.
A full closure of McCowan Road from Bushby Drive to Corporate Drive will commence after 8 p.m. on August 30 and continue until September 3, followed by debris removal and road restoration before 5 a.m. on the morning the closure is lifted.
While McCowan will reopen after this full-weekend closure, demolition of supporting structures like the approaches to the bridge, abutments, stairs and other infrastructure will continue throughout September before the project is complete.
Demolition of this infrastructure will free up work space for the forthcoming subway station at this site, estimated for completion between 2029 and 2030.
