Cedarvale Bridge is a popular pedestrian route and scenic spot for many local residents, but the bridge’s wear and tear is becoming an ever more pressing concern.

The Glen Cedar Footbridge, also known as Cedarvale Bridge, spans Cedarvale Park from north to south, west of Bathurst Street and north of Vaughan Road. The present bridge, built in 1989, is a replica of the original built in 1912 for Henry Pellatt, builder of Casa Loma.

“The story started with a few of the planks on the bridge rotting and people being able to see [through them] down to the ground,” said Ward 21 councillor Joe Mihevc. 

When City of Toronto staff inspected the bridge in the fall of 2015, they noticed some deeper rotting on the raised sidewalks, which triggered some safety concerns.

To temporarily alleviate the issue, city staff blocked off the raised sidewalks on either side of the bridge with a six-foot chain-link fence. This wound up frustrating many locals. 

John Cummings, chair of the Friends of Cedarvale, called it an “ugly metal fence that obstructs the beautiful view of the ravine.” Cummings has also taken issue with the lengthy repair timeline. “We would obviously prefer to have the bridge repaired as soon as possible. I believe the bridge is safe to use in its current state,” he said.

However not everyone agrees. Local resident Lauren Streisfield questions the structural integrity of the bridge. 

“Throwing up some fences doesn’t seem to be a good fix for a bridge of this height. I’d like for more assurance that the bridge is safe,” she said. 

Mihevc has met with city staff to discuss ways to accelerate the schedule of repair — currently slated for 2017.

In the meantime, Mihevc said the city is working to find a more immediate improvement to the chain-link fence and see what parts of it can be opened up so that residents can better enjoy the views.