A level crossing which had been the scene of
Avenue West several fatal traffic accidents was eliminated with the
opening on October 27, 1966, of the three-bridge grade
separation over the C. N. R. and CP.R. on Eglinton Avenue West, at Weston.
A design feature of the structure was a 780-foot cantilevered retaining wall, built from three basic components-precast wall
panels, precast post-tensioned concrete pylons and cast-in-place footings
to which the pylons were anchored. Earth pressures holdthe panels tight against the back of the pylons.
Major advantages over the standard cast-in-place walls
for similar applications were the rapid installation, being pretested to full
load in place before backfilling, improved appearance and durability, and
simplified Winter construction. It resulted in an attractive yet economical
concept in retaining walls, thereby eliminating large drab expanses of grey
concrete as seen in conventional poured in-place walls. There was also
the time-saving factor.
The retaining wall was part of a $2,600,000 project,
which included the grade separations of the Railways, a bridge over Black
Creek and widening of the roadway from Trethewey Drive to Weston Road,
completed in 1966.
It all formed part of a general development of Eglinton
Avenue West which will extend from Caledonia Road to Royal York Road.
Construction of the earth embankment across the Eglin¬
ton – Jane Flats is scheduled to commence in 1967, and construction of the
bridge over the Humber River is slated for a 1968 start.
A unique operation in the widening of Eglinton Avenue
West was the relocation of a one-storey Bank building, estimated to weigh
700 tons, and moving it a distance of 93 feet. To accomplish this, holes
were punched in the concrete basement walls at 4-foot centres and a grid
of steel beams inserted. The building was jacked two feet and placed on
seven runs of steel rollers.
The new site was excavated, footings placed, and the building winched to its new location over a two-month period without interruption of business.
