A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge ) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span , or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- or double-leafed.
7-544: The Cherry Street Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge is a bascule bridge and Warren truss in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. Located in the industrial Port Lands area, it carries Cherry Street over the Toronto Harbour Ship Channel and opens to allow ships to access the channel and the turning basin beyond. There was previously another bascule bridge further north on Cherry Street. The other, smaller bridge , crossed
14-541: A funding agreement with PortsToronto (the "Owner") for the rehabilitation of the Cherry Street Ship Channel bridge approach spans and the Bascule bridge along with the authority to fund, from the approved 2021-2030 Transportation Services Capital Budget, the costs of the design and construction of these works, expected to total approximately $ 22.0 million over a period expected to be 2021-2025. In addition, and during
21-633: The Keating Channel , while this bridge crosses the Ship Channel. The bridge was built in 1930 by the company of Joseph Strauss and the Dominion Bridge Company . The north side of the bridge has 750-ton concrete counterweights that allow the bridge to pivot to open. The bridge uses 500 tons of steel in its construction. The bridge is designed to carry two lanes of traffic. It cost CA$ 500,000 ($ 9.58 million in 2023 dollars) to build. It
28-411: The counterweights to the span may be located above or below the bridge deck. The fixed- trunnion (sometimes a "Chicago" bascule) rotates around a large axle that raises the span(s). The Chicago bascule name derives from the location where it is widely used, and is a refinement by Joseph Strauss of the fixed-trunnion. The rolling lift trunnion (sometimes a "Scherzer" rolling lift), raises
35-479: The same principle. Bascule bridges are the most common type of movable span because they open quickly and require relatively little energy to operate, while providing the possibility for unlimited vertical clearance for marine traffic. Bascule bridges have been in use since ancient times, but until the adoption of steam power in the 1850s, very long, heavy spans could not be moved quickly enough for practical application. There are three types of bascule bridge and
42-517: The same timeframe, PortsToronto will rehabilitate the bridge's lifting mechanisms (mechanical and electrical) at a total cost of approximately $ 12.0 million. As of fall 2023, the City work on the approaches and 'foundations' was almost complete and in 2024 it is expected that the metalwork will be repaired and repainted. Bascule bridge The name comes from the French term for balance scale , which employs
49-472: Was officially opened on June 29, 1931 by Toronto Mayor William Stewart. The bridge was listed under the Ontario Heritage Act by the City of Toronto in 1992 as architecturally historical . The city spent CA$ 2.5 million to refurbish the bridge in 2007. The Toronto Port Authority made further repairs from December 2012 to September 2013 at a cost of CA$ 2 million . In 2021 the City entered into
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