Yup, it’s finally here!
After years of wanting, planning and waiting, the King Liberty Pedestrian Bridge has been lifted in place!
Although the pedestrian bridge won’t be fully completed and accessible until the spring of 2020, it was finally been erected over the weekend of September 14, seven years after its construction was approved by Toronto’s city council.
All photos thanks to Toronto.ca
For residents of Liberty Village, getting to King Street West meant taking a notoriously indirect, circuitous route (and vice versa, for those traveling from King St. to Liberty Village).
What will soon take a 3-minute walk to cross into each neighbourhood currently takes about 7 times longer right now.
On a good day. But not anymore!
This new pedestrian bridge – which spans 55 metres – will provide a direct artery from Douro Street to Western Battery Road, traversing the Kitchener/Milton rail line.
The delays – which dragged on for the last few years – were apparently due to the complicating logistics required to get this job completed with minimal traffic flow disruption.
I respect how significant an accomplishment it was given the location.
All photos thanks to Toronto.ca
The King-Liberty Pedestrian Bridge wil be accessible 24/7/365. The passageway will be illuminated with lots of security measures in place, like cameras and emergency call buttons.
The design has also taken into account neighboring buildings, particularly when it comes to lighting.
While hip Liberty Village, renown for being a new economy hub for tech, marketing and creative service companies, and a destination for cool lofts and first-time buyer swag pads, isn’t the easiest locale to navigate. With limited access points and no real public transit serving it directly, some consider Liberty Village isolated. Conversely, denizens in King West have long looked over the rail corridor from their condos and watched all the fun unravelling on the ‘other side of the tracks’. Now that this pedestrian bridge will imminently be completed, it’s arrival will open up a world of possibilities.
Literally.
All photos thanks to Toronto.ca
The bridge will include accessible elevators, cycling ramps (yes!) and stairwells.
Having the option to walk or cycle to a destination has moved beyond being a bonus to be essential, given how gridlock is becoming an every day possibility in our urban center.
And having an easy access bridge simply promotes a healthy life style.
Constructed in two pieces offsite, it was hoisted and connected mid-air with the support of cranes on September 15.
Next is the construction of the illuminated elevator towers on each end that will showcase artwork.
How neat is that?!
All photos thanks to Toronto.ca
There’s been loads of press on this long awaited bridge including: “Major Installation To Bring King-Liberty Bridge 1 Big Step Closer To Completion”, “Long-Awaited Pedestrian Bridge To Be Hoisted In Toronto This Weekend “”King-Liberty Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge” and “Construction of $11.5M King-Liberty Pedestrian Bridge To Start”.
Yup, this is a big deal! Beyond being an architectural and engineering feat, the increase in convenience and decrease in commuting will be absolutely invaluable!
Talk about an improvement to the quality of life for so many urban residents!
We Heart King West & Liberty Village
Speaking of quality of life, is being in the heart of downtown accessible to all that’s hip, cool and on-trend, something you covet?
Check out our 2bed 2bath listing at 1 Shaw just steps from King West called –> A Cool, Contemporary Sky-High Suite On King West, offered for $650,000!
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Want to learn more about the King West and Liberty Village neighbourhoods?
Here’s our Neighbourhood Page including census data, our go-to amenities and our flavour video!
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Gentrification, Densification, And The History Of Toronto Real Estate
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