Lost retro-futuristic Toronto bridge was quietly saved and it's coming back soon
An enclosed pedestrian bridge known for its retro-futuristic design is set to make a return — salvaged to potentially live on at a major Toronto attraction.
The enclosed glass bridge structures that once served the now-shuttered Scarborough Centre station on the Scarborough RT closed in 2023, and were demolished last year in conjunction with Metrolinx's Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE) project.
But, while the Scarborough RT pedestrian bridge was widely expected to find its way to the scrap heap, Metrolinx surprised the public on Thursday, when the transit agency announced that the structure not only survived the demolition, but would live on for years to come.
Retro-futuristic Toronto bridge is about to be demolished for goodhttps://t.co/rgHMfx0T9Y
— blogTO (@blogTO) July 31, 2024
Metrolinx shared on Thursday that "This won't be the last time you'll be seeing the beloved retro-futuristic pedestrian bridge structures that were mainstays at Scarborough Centre since the 1980s."
"After being removed to prepare for construction of the Scarborough Subway Extension, sections of the Progress Avenue and McCowan RT pedestrian bridge canopies have been salvaged in partnership with Scarborough Spots and the Toronto Zoo."
While the statement does not specify the plans for the enclosed structure, the wording suggests that the disused bridge could be headed to the Toronto Zoo in the near future.
Though details are scant for the time being, the bridge's resurrection would join other Scarborough RT infrastructure now being repurposed. Some of the Scarborough RT's trains have been shipped down the 401, where they now serve on the Detroit People Mover system, operating using the same technology as the defunct Scarborough Line 3.
Metrolinx
