"Time: And A Clock"

Coming to Riverside on the 501 streetcar I wondered everyday about the history of this beautiful bridge and the Don River. I wondered what the bridge looked like when it was first made… how people commuted when it was not there. Today I decided to do a little bit of research and found some amazing things I felt everyone who has ever wondered like me should know.

The bridge under construction in 1911

The “Queen Street Viaduct” as it is officially known was built over the Don River in 1911 (101 years ago! If you are trying to calculate) The 200m long structure that we cross everyday is one of the major routes connecting downtown Toronto with the east side of the City. According to my extensive Wikipedia search, the bridge that we cross today is at least the third bridge over the Don River at this location. The first was built in 1800s, originally operated by the Scadding family.  The bridge was completely renovated in 2002 . 

The Queen Street Viaduct after its completion in 1911

The bridge as we see it today

The artistic clock, that confirms that I am on time for work everyday,  was installed in 1996 and was designed by the creative Eldon Garnet (A Toronto based artist). The clock had stopped working sometime after it was installed. It was revived on the 30^th anniversary of the Riverside BIA, in summer of 2010.  

"Time: And A Clock", over the bridge

Pondering the abstract text flowing over the glowing clock - "This River I step in is Not the River I Stand in" I had to find out what it meant. 

I stumbled upon  an article where Eldon Garnet explains that he borrowed the phrase from the Greek philosopher Heraclitus.  The emphasis of his words, is that  change is the only thing that is constant  in life.  A bit on the dramatic side for me, so lets just say that change seems to be the only thing constant in Riverside these days.

Hmm… now I wonder what the bridge will look like a 100 years from today.