Pedestrian Bridge: Did You Know?

(Above) Artist’s rendering completed Pickering pedestrian bridge over highway 401.

It was coined ‘the bridge to the future’ and has been in the planning stages since the mid-1990s. The fully-enclosed pedestrian bridge that spans Hwy. 401 from Pickering Parkway to the north to the Pickering GO station to the south promises to be a catalyst for economic growth and will offer welcome convenience to commuters as the year draws to a close.

Together with the LEED-Silver office tower in the downtown, it’s one of the most visible examples of sustainability in the province. Metrolinx, the Province of Ontario's regional transportation agency for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, answers some questions about its construction:

How long is the bridge span?
Approximately 220m, or 722 ft., not including the final span from the north bridge landing to the office tower at 1340 Pickering Parkway.

How high is the bridge from grade?
The distance from where people are walking on the bridge down to grade on Hwy. 401? It varies from 5m to 7.4m.

Is the bridge temperature regulated inside?
The temperature of the bridge's interior space is not actively regulated. Passive heating and cooling has been incorporated.

How can I access the bridge?
Once fully completed, the bridge can be accessed via stairs or elevator from both the south and north landings.

How many jobs were created to get the job done?
We do not have a precise number for the bridge project available at this time. In the past, the Government of Ontario has estimated the employment impacts of constructing transportation infrastructure using the following calculation: 10 person-years of employment per $1 million in budgeted costs, which would provide a rough estimate of 220 person-years of employment.

(Above) The last truss is guided into place, October 2011.

What is the projected price tag on the bridge?
At this time, we’re projecting a cost of $22 million.

Where were the bridge components constructed and how far did they travel to get here?
The bridge trusses were fabricated in Ayr, Ont. and travelled 160 km to Pickering.
(Ontario’s local supply chain at work!)

How many companies were involved in accomplishing the project?
Roughly 20 companies were involved.

Will the bridge always be lit up at night? Is there more than one colour or colour pattern that will light up the bridge?
The lighting system is similar to the one currently used to light up the CN Tower and Metrolinx will be able to control the colours.

Does the bridge also provide conduits for other infrastructure, such as telecommunications or energy utilities?
There is no third-party infrastructure passing through the bridge. (The City of Pickering’s downtown is already serviced by two fibre optic lines and multiple utility service providers via conduits beneath Hwy. 401.)

(Above) Glass panels stand ready for installation, November 2011.