Cityplace Bridge

[Mollywood]

I didn't see a thread for the Cityplace Bridge, so I'm putting one here.
This is a video I made on the weekend.
[/QUOTE]

[Marcanadian]

We've kind of combined the bridge talk into the Parade thread.

It's a decent looking bridge. The yellow adds some much needed colour into that sea of green and blue.

[Taller, Better]

My god that is one huge, hulking, massive great bunker of a concrete wall....wish something could be done with it to make it look better, or even just cover the danged thing with ivy to make it green.
The bridge is kind of cool, though...

[Diesel_Power]

I watched that video and kept waiting for Mark Dailey's voice to pop in. "This is City TV, everywhere!".

[MysticMcGoo]

There! Thats the 'descent' bridge Toronto needed! Problem solved

[skyscraper03]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

My god that is one huge, hulking, massive great bunker of a concrete wall....wish something could be done with it to make it look better, or even just cover the danged thing with ivy to make it green.
The bridge is kind of cool, though...

Interesting point there, but I think they could cover that bridge with ivy to make it green.

[Taller, Better]

Using natural plant growth is often overlooked by modern society. It can hide a myriad of sins.

[Travis007]

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...bridge-project

Finally, light at the end of the bridge project

Published On Mon Aug 08 2011
Wendy Gillis
Staff Reporter

The bridge — named Puente de Luz, Spanish for “Bridge of Light” — is something condominium developer Concord Adex is obligated to provide, in exchange for the rights to develop the area south of the rail tracks. A 1985 land rights agreement says the land developer must finance and build the bridge, with the city taking ownership upon completion.

But the project became mired in conflicts when disagreements about the bridge’s design arose with GO Transit and CN Rail.

In 2009, it was decided that the bridge had to be built higher than anticipated, to protect GO and CN rail signal sight lines. Then, the agreed-upon height — 11.7 meters — brought the bridge into air space owned by CN Rail.

After discussions with the rail company, the city ultimately paid CN Rail $500,000, using money from other developments.

Now finally being built — the first section went up this past weekend — the walkway brings a shock of yellow to the area’s typically brown, grey and black urban backdrop.

The structure is modelled after a series of similarly golden-hued bridges in Pittsburgh, and the design is by Chilean artist Francisco Gazitua, whose sculptures also appear at condo projects in Liberty Village.

The Puente de Luz project should be completed by 2012.

[Diesel_Power]

This bridge will look absolutely awful in a couple years once the yellow paint begins to peel off and reveal rusted steel.

[rise_against]

Originally Posted by Diesel_Power

This bridge will look absolutely awful in a couple years once the yellow paint begins to peel off and reveal rusted steel.

Ahhh now theres looking on the bright side of things.

[Ukraine]

they shoudlve went with a stainless steel bridge...

[current]

Bridge opened Friday Oct 26 Globe article:
Accepting An Invitation to Cross the Yellow Bridge
CHRISTINE MUSHKA
The Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Oct. 26 2012, 9:28 PM EDT
Last updated Friday, Oct. 26 2012, 9:29 PM EDT

...On Friday, the 125-metre-long bridge opened to pedestrians. After the dignitaries cut the ribbon, I joined the crowd to walk across Puente de Luz, or Bridge of Light, one-quarter of which was built in Chile. Spanning Toronto’s busy downtown railway corridor, where the commuter Go Trains marshall and trundle below, it’s a simple yet elegant piece of public art in a city that’s not known for extravagant displays of architectural beauty. Only in Canada could a team of Chinese-Canadian developers join forces with a Chilean sculptor to produce such a delightful, yet utilitarian result. The opening festivities were a multicultural statement of what makes Toronto events special. Chilean music and wine. Lake Ontario wind and construction grit.

Sculptor-designer Francisco Gazitua came from Chile to christen the project. A humble man of great vision, he deflects credit to the team – structural engineer Peter Sheffield, art consultant Karen Mills and Concord Adex architect and vice-president of development Gabriel Leung. They took his poetic dream and made it real, he says. “You’ve got to have a very good engineer to land the dream.” The bridge has to be strong, yet lightweight. It has to span the railway gutter with only one central pier. It has to deal with wind gusts that barrell down the street from the SkyDome and CN Tower, yet handle the weight of 1,000 people. In his workshop in Chile, Mr. Gazitua started with prototypes – some with squared-shaped sections, others with feather-like delicacy – until, after six months of discussions and drawings, the team settled on the system of arches. The sculptural portals on the 60-metre end ramps were built in Chile to echo the arches on the bridge and bring a fanciful personality to the overall structure.

And then there’s that distinctive colour. Historic Front Street has never seen anything like it. It took us a while to get used to the shade suggested by Ms. Mills. The calming yellow plays across the steel – a good contrast against a grey-blue sky and the grey-black tones of the CityPlace high rises. The overall effect looks pricey, but no one would reveal the exact final cost of the bridge on Friday. “The cost of it isn’t as significant as the value,” Mr. Leung said, coyly avoiding the question. When Concord Adex bought the land, it agreed to the City of Toronto’s requirement that a pedestrian bridge be built – at the developer’s cost. Mr. Leung is on the record, though, as saying that Puente de Luz cost about “one-third” of the red Peace Bridge in Calgary, which is almost the same length. It became a source of friction due to its $24.5-million price tag – shouldered by the taxpayers...

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...85/?cmpid=rss1

Oct 26
image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

[OEincorparated]

Wow this was built quick, the yellow is nice and what a view you get of the CBD from there.

[isaidso]

This pedestrian bridge was much needed, but I admit to being jealous of the one Calgary built.

[AndrewJM3D]

I went to use it last night and it was fenced back off.

[Toronto2008]

What it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up for in.....uh....yellow paint?

[Taller, Better]

What's wrong with the aesthetics? It is not exactly the same as other ones people envy, but I think it is nice!

[Toronto2008]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

What's wrong with the aesthetics? It is not exactly the same as other ones people envy, but I think it is nice!

It already looks a bit dated + A bit too much concrete for my liking. Doesn't mean I refuse to walk across it, but still...

[Innsertnamehere]

I feel the yellow is too washed out. would be much nicer if it was a brighter yellow., plus they should have build a short staircase off of each end to make the walk much faster.

[ChesterCopperpot]

Originally Posted by AndrewJM3D

I went to use it last night and it was fenced back off.

It's been fenced off since 8pm on Friday night