No clear timeline for fixing Cherry St. lift bridge that has been stuck upright for days, city says

Thestar.com
August 8, 2019
Emma Sandri

The Cherry St. lift bridge has been stuck in “lift position” for almost a week, and the city says there’s no clear timeline for when it will be functional again.

The bridge at Lake Shore Blvd. E. and Cherry St. was locked into its lifted position last Thursday due to a “mechanical/electrical failure,” City of Toronto spokesperson Eric Holmes said in an email.

Near the corner with Lake Shore, a neon sign announces the bridge is closed and asks people to use the Don Roadway instead. Closer to the bridge, a construction sign indicates the bike path is “closed to all pedestrians.” There’s no indication of any kind of construction work anywhere around.

Shakir Omar, who manages The Keating Channel Pub and Grill next to the bridge, says business has slowed down because of the malfunction. “We’re down probably between 30 to 50 per cent of our sales every day,” he said. “It’s killing our business and everybody else down here.”

Omar added that even if customers could get into the Port Lands despite the bridge malfunction, “it takes you at least 20 minutes, half an hour to just get out,” and that potential customers aren’t making the detour.

A number of cyclists and pedestrians attempting to go across were seen stopping at the closure, briefly observing the scene before taking off again and looping around back on Lake Shore -- the unexplained mechanical failure leaving them both confused and a little angry.

Roger Abbott, who regularly bikes to and from soccer games with his buddies at the Cherry Beach Sports Field across the bridge, said the closure is an inconvenience he cannot afford.

“I can’t really be late to these games,” he said, noting he and his group have the slot between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the facilities.

“This is a little annoying because I have to go all the way around. I lose a handful of minutes because of that.”

Visiting the city from Cleveland and enjoying a free bike ride from Bike Share, Charly Campbell said she happened upon the bridge as she was looking for a nearby bike rack before going to see some friends in the far east end.

“I guess I have to turn around and go back into the downtown core now,” she said at the bridge.

The city and Ports Toronto are working together “to evaluate what kind of maintenance work is required to get the bridge down and in working order,” Holmes said later.

Asked if there was a timeline for when the bridge will be working, Holmes said “as soon as possible.”

He said city staff have put up messages and signage on the approach to the bridge, directing cyclists and drivers to use the Don Roadway.

From there, Holmes said there are a “number of options” to get back onto Cherry St., so Torontonians can make their way to the beach or to businesses in the area.

Other options to access the Port Lands include Leslie St. and Carlaw Ave.