Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction crews reached a milestone on the Scarborough Subway Extension project, removing the 8,100-tonne Progress Avenue bridge in a 72 hour-marathon.
There were more than 3,000 cu. m. of concrete in the bridge deck and supporting centre columns and the demolition took 960 work hours – 20 people working four 12-hour shifts.
Preparations for the demolition of the 40-year-old structure started in July with asphalt being stripped and streetlights, walkway coverings, curbs, railings, signage and sidewalks being removed.
A two-foot layer of sand was spread on McCowan Road, topped with eco-friendly mats made from used tires to protect utilities from debris during demolition. Environmental assessments were also conducted to test soil and other key factors prior to work beginning.
The demolition was completed by a fleet of 12 excavators, specially designed for urban settings to minimize dust and noise and equipped with hydraulic breaking hammers.
Once the bridge deck was dismantled, the central support columns were removed and the holes were filled. Concrete rubble from bridge removal will be crushed and recycled to use as a base for future construction areas at the site.
The Scarborough Centre Station will be built on the site, including a large bus terminal served by local TTC and regional routes and fully accessible platforms with modern amenities.
