WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? Vaughan to demolish house bought for $1.3M, remove century-old bridge

Yorkregion.com
June 15, 2020
Adam Martin-Robbins

Bowstring arch bridge over Humber River, house on Humber Bridge Trail in Hwy. 27, Major Mackenzie Drive area could be gone by October

The City of Vaughan is removing a 102-year-old bridge that spans the Humber River and is demolishing the house it provides access to, which the city bought for nearly $1.3 million.

JUST THE FACTS:

• The city recently issued a tender for companies to bid on the job, expected to close June 19, which includes removal of the concrete bowstring-arch bridge, demolition of the house at 5789 Humber Bridge Trail, construction of a cul-de-sac where the road will now end as well as restoring the pavement on Humber Bridge Trail. The project is expected to cost about $700,000.
• The move comes almost four years after the city hired consulting firm AECOM to re-asses what ought to be done with the bridge, which was built in 1918 and provided access to a single home on the east side of the river
• AECOM previously did an environmental assessment to determine the city’s best course of action. It laid out a few options, ranging from extensive rehabilitation of the existing bridge at an estimated cost of just more than $800,000 to building a new bridge at a cost of about $1.7 million. While the firm initially recommended repairing the bridge, it was later discovered that wasn't a viable option, according to the city.
• In 2017, the city bought the property that the bridge provided access to for $1.28 million.
• The bridge was deemed unsafe and closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic in 2018.
• Removal of the bridge and demolition of the home is expected to start in July and be completed by October.