Tribute to 90-year-old 'Hogg's Hollow Bridge'

Torontosun.com
January 9, 2019
Mike Filey

The “original” bridge that carried Yonge St. over a branch of the Don Rivert that continues to flow through the hollow named in honour of the pioneer Hogg family is seen in this early 1900s penny postcard.

Since it was officially opened to traffic exactly 90 years ago Saturday -- on January 5, 1929 -- what was initially known as Yonge Boulevard Viaduct, then more colloquially as the Hogg’s Hollow Bridge or Viaduct, over the years the structure has been enlarged with the addition of three more spans.

But the original single span structure remains an integral part of the 14 lane stretch of Hwy. 401 across the top of the city.

The viaduct concept was first proposed in 1921 as a way for traffic to detour around the treacherous stretch of old Yonge St. that descended through the valley of the West Don River -- a locale that had gained the title Hogg’s Hollow in recognition of the Hogg family, local millers and land developers.

Towering 39 meters (128 feet) above the valley floor and stretching 384 meters (1,260 feet) in length, the ends of the new structure would connect with the existing Yonge Boulevard on the high ground to the west and Yonge St. some distance south of Sheppard Ave. to the northeast.

Financed by the City of Toronto (20%), the County of York (20%) and the province (60%), the obligatory ribbon cutting was performed by George S. Henry, the Minister of Highways 90 years ago.