Humber Bay Arch Bridge
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The Humber Bay Arch Bridge (also known as the Humber River Arch Bridge, the Humber River Pedestrian Bridge, or the Gateway Bridge) is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge south of Lake Shore Boulevard West in Toronto, Canada. Completed in the mid-1990s, the bridge is 139 metres in length, with a clear span of 100 metres over the mouth of the Humber River to protect the environmental integrity of the waterway.
It is constructed of two 1200mm diameter high-strength steel pipes, bent into twin arches that rise 21.3m above grade, and suspend the deck by way of 44 stainless-steel hangars, each 50mm in diameter. Designed in 1994 by Montgomery and Sisam Architects of Toronto, it was constructed by Delcan Corporation, and is the recipient of numerous local architectural, design and engineering awards.
The bridge connects the former municipalities of "Old Toronto" and Etobicoke (both now part of the almagamated City of Toronto) along an ancient aboriginal trading route along the shore of Lake Ontario, and thus features design elements and decorations such as carved turtles and canoes that evoke this native heritage. The bridge forms an important pedestrian and recreational link, and carries the Waterfront Trail, a multi-use pathway that will eventually parallel the entire north shore of Lake Ontario. The Toronto section is known as the Martin Goodman Trail, and is one of the most popular pedestrian and cycling routes in the city.
After the death of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in October 2000, a proposal was made to name the bridge after him. However, the idea was eventually discarded as inappropriate.
