After a long and somewhat controversial competition, the new name of the $25-million Gardiner Expressway underpass revitalization is “The Bentway.”

Waterfront Toronto announced the news this week after an online vote came down to the eventual winner and “The Artery,” capping a process that started with 884 suggestions. The other finalists chosen by a jury were “The Canopy” and “The Gathering Place.”

An earlier online vote was scrapped after organizers determined one or more people used automatic voting to make “The Artery” catch up with “The Bentway” at the last minute. A runoff between the two was held with safeguards to ensure people could only vote once per day.

The civic transformation project is the result of a $25-million donation to the city from philanthropists Judy and Wil Matthews. The goal is to remake 1.75 kilometres of drab underpass into vivid and appealing spaces with parks, markets and more.

Reaction to the name over at Nathan Phillips Square was mostly positive on Friday, although only person approached by the Star guessed that “Bentway” refers to “bent”, the architectural term for the concrete overpass supports.

“It makes me think of the structure itself. At first, I’m not so sure about it but it sounds kind of quirky.” — Julia Patterson of Toronto

“It makes me think of diversity — this city’s kind of bent.” — A laughing Joanne Patterson of Toronto

“It sounds cool, I like it. I like that was named after the main idea, the bent tubes under the Gardiner.” — Ralph Tigno of Toronto

“I wouldn’t understand why they called it, that but if there’s a meaning behind it, and people understand it, I guess it’s good. There’s not a negative connotation.” — Jacqueline Camley of Montreal

“I like that name but I like more Bent Age, or maybe Revolution Bent Age” — David Gelashvili of Toronto

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