Sewells Road Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sewells Road Bridge |
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Sewells Road suspension bridge on a late fall afternoon
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| Coordinates | 43°49′39″N 79°11′59″W / 43.82754°N 79.19962°W |
| Carries | single lane of traffic on Sewells Road |
| Crosses | Rouge River |
| Locale | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Maintained by | Toronto Transportation Services (1998-present) Scarborough Works Department (1912-1997) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Single-decked suspension bridge |
| Total length | 50 metres (160 ft) |
| Width | single lane |
| Clearance above | 4.1 metres (13 ft) |
| Clearance below | approximately 4.0 metres (13.1 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1912 |
The Sewells Road Bridge is a special kind of bridge in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It's a single-lane suspension bridge that helps cars cross the Rouge River. This bridge is quite unique because suspension bridges are usually very long. They often cross huge rivers or wide valleys. But the Sewells Road Bridge is one of the shortest suspension bridges used for cars! It's also one of the few suspension bridges you'll find in all of Ontario.
How the Bridge Was Built
The Sewells Road Bridge was finished in 1912. A smart engineer named Frank Barber helped design it. The company Lewis Construction also worked on building it. This bridge is the only suspension bridge in the entire city of Toronto!
When it was built, this bridge was probably the only way to cross the Rouge River in north Scarborough. It's not far from another important bridge, the Old Finch Avenue Bailey Bridge.
The Bridge Today
The Sewells Road Bridge is still used today! It was repaired in 1981 to keep it strong and safe. The city of Toronto has listed it as a historic structure. This means it's an important part of the city's history. There are only 15 bridges in Toronto with this special historic listing.
Two strong cables hold up the bridge, which is 50 metres (160 ft) long. It can carry loads that weigh up to 5 tonnes (5.5 short tons). The bridge is looked after and maintained by Toronto Transportation Services.
After the 1981 repairs, a special plaque was added to the bridge. This plaque shares details about the bridge's history. It also explains why this unique bridge is so valuable to the community.
