Pickering’s
‘Bridge to the Future’
A C ATALYST FO R G RO WTH AND CO NNEC TION governments,whogavetheirstampsofapprovalthrough stimulus funding packages that had been created to counter the globalrecessionof201.
“I was always adamant that the City would not build a bridge tonowhere,”MayorRyansaidatthetime.“Ithadtoservea higherpurposethanwhatwasoriginallyconceived.Andno we’veaccomplishedamuchgreaterfeat.Thepedestrianbr representsaneweraforPickeringandtrulystandsasou to the future.”
Itwasn’tlonguntilGOTransit(nowMetrolinx)committed$20 milliontobuilda70-vehicleGOTransit/oceparkingdeckat theocetower,whichwasdevelopedby20VicManagement. ThePickeringPedestrianBridgehasrightlybeendescribed Its principal applauded Mayor Ryan for “getting all of the project asa‘featofengineering,’butasourburgeoningCityCentre stakeholders,includingseniorlevelsofgovernment,to underscores,there’smuchmoretothebridgethanmeets the eye. his compelling andsweepingcity-buildingvision.”
The250-metrebridgespans14lanesofHwy.401,Canada’s ThePickeringPedestrianBridgewascompletedin2018.That busiesttransportationlink,sixliverailtracks,and amunicipal fall, theCityofPickeringworkedwiththeownersofPicker roadway. TownCentre(PTC)todevelopaboldandexcitingvisionofa brandnewCityCentrethatwouldseetheredevelopmen The iconic architectural structure lights up the night sky and thelandsontheeastsideofPTCandimmediatelysoutho providesavitallinkfromthePickeringGOStationtoour EsplanadeSouth.Whilewehavedeferredtheprojectatt City Centre. Visitors, shoppers, patrons and employees enjoy timetobetterevaluatethefinancialimpacts,westillb quick,convenientandcomfortableaccesstoaClass‘A’LEEDandarecommittedtothevisionofcreatingadynamic,urba Goldocetower,OntarioPowerGeneration’s(OPG)Centre sustainable, and walkable downtown where our community forCanadianNuclearSustainability(CCNS)Innovationand cancometogethertolive,work,learn,shop,dine,play,andbe CollaborationSpace,PickeringTownCentre(PTC),restaurants entertained. andaGOTransitparkingdeck. WiththedirectconnectiontothePickeringGOStationD Pickeringdoesn’thaveadefineddowntownpresence,butthe College and Centennial College established a joint learning bridgepavedthewayforaboldnewvisionwhichimaginesacentre at the north terminus of the pedestrian bridge to attract vibrant,connected,andbustlingCityCentre,wheremunicipal studentsfromacrosstheGreaterTorontoArea.Whenito servicedelivery,shopping&retail,andresidentialintensifi cation itsdoors, itwasPickering’sveryfirstpost-secondaryinst come together as the heart of the city. Unfortunately,likemanyareasoftheeconomy,thepostsecondarysectorwashardhitbyCOVID-19andthecolleges Tofullyappreciatethesignificanceofthebridge,let’stravel shutteredthecentreamidtheirtransitiontoaremo backto206.That’swhentheMunicipalPropertyAssessment model. Corporation(MPAC)announceditsintentiontorelocateto Torontobecauseithadoutgrownitshumbleheadquarters on thecovetedlocationdidn’tremainemptyfor However, PickeringParkway. long, becoming home to the Canadian Centre for Nuclear
Sustainability(CCNS)infallAmong 20. otherthings, Determinedtosave20valuedjobs,MayorRyansharedwith theCCNSdescribesitselfasaninnovationhubtoleada MPAChisvisionforanocetower.Threeyearslater,the‘Class collaborate on sustainable and socially responsible plans for the A’ocetower,withdirectaccesstoHwy.401andoverlooking end of the nuclear lifecycle. theGOStation,begantorise.The$30-millionocetoweroers pristineviewsofLakeOntarioandbecamethenewhomeofLastyear,theGuinnessBookofWorldRecordsnamedthe MPAC,andvaluedtenantslikeOPG. PickeringPedestrianBridgethelongestenclosedpeopl
crossing in the world, reinforcing the fact that it is indeed a Meanwhile,apedestrianbridgethatcrossedHwy.401hadbeen featofengineering.Thebridgeisalsofulfillingitsdestin intheplanningstagesformorethanadecadebutneverhadthe layingthegroundworkforaboldnewfuture.“We’recreating requiredsupporttoadvancebeyondtheconceptualstage.That somethingspecialhere,”MayorRyansaysofCityCentre.“We’re was,untiltheCitysuccessfullylobbiedthefederalandprovincial creating a legacy. This is something we can all be proud of.” Your City Magazine - Issue 3 | 9
