Prince Edward Viaduct

Construction of the Prince Edward Viaduct could be considered one of the single most important events to the development of East Toronto.

Previous to this, the only adequate access across the Don River was further south at the Queen Street Bridge.

However, proposals to build a bridge to connect Bloor Street to the Danforth were intially met with much resistance. At the time, the Danforth area wasn't highly populated and so the project was nicknamed the "Bridge to Nowhere."

The project was struck down twice by voters but was finally approved in 1913.

The project officials had the foresight to see that, one day, rapid transit would be important and therefore the lower deck was constructed beneath the bridge. This decision saved Toronto millions when the Bloor subway was constructed more than 50 years later.

The bridge opened for traffic in 1919 and was initially called the Bloor Street Viaduct. It was later renamed to honor a visit by Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII).

 

 

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