News Release

The Cherry Street bridge over the Keating Channel remains locked in a lifted position due to mechanical failure. The City of Toronto and PortsToronto have retained the services of a professional engineering firm with specialized bridge expertise to begin work on lowering the bridge.

The work is complex and will require multiple stages to complete, including securing the bridge to remove the malfunctioning components, large cranes to lower the bridge, and inspections. The work will be performed in a way that prioritizes safety for everyone involved, including the public and the workers.

The aim is to have the situation resolved as soon as possible. Current projections, however, indicate it could take as long as a month to lower the bridge and ensure it is safe and passable.

The bridge, which first opened in 1968, is scheduled for replacement in the next 18 months as part of the Port Lands Flood Protection Program.

The City of Toronto and PortsToronto appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this situation as quickly and safely as possible. Detour signage will remain in place. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who want to access or return from the port lands while the bridge work is underway can use the Don Roadway, Carlaw Avenue or Leslie Street.

Signage is in place around the closure to help direct TTC customers. The 121 Fort York and 72 Pape bus routes will continue to divert around Cherry Street between Lakeshore Boulevard East and Villiers Street. No stops will be missed but some may be shifted slightly to accommodate the detours. TTC customers are encouraged to follow @TTCnotices on Twitter or check http://www.ttc.ca for more detailed routing information.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.