Iconic landmark near Toronto lands spot in the Guinness World Record books
The iconic Pickering pedestrian bridge has landed in the record books, declared by the Guinness World Records as the longest enclosed pedestrian bridge in the world.
The $38 million dollar bridge that has become a landmark in the city east of Toronto crossing Highway 401 earned the record after being measured at 250 meters in length.
“We knew we had something special and we couldn’t find another one around the world that was the same length and that made us think we should see if it’s the longest and sure enough, it is,” Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins told CTV News Toronto on Tuesday.
The whole process took over a year to complete, with Metrolinx recently receiving confirmation from Guinness World Records, said Aikins.
An independent engineer measured the pedestrian bridge’s length from end to end, while a Metronlix official witnessed it. The whole process was recorded and later verified by Guinness officials after it was submitted.
“I see this bridge every single day when I drive by the highway and so it’s pretty exciting to know that,” engineer Oama Big, who works nearby, said.
“What really interests me the most is it runs right across one of the largest highways in all of North America and also its unique architecture,” he said.
The bridge was completed in 2018 and is considered a feat of engineering, crossing 14 highway lanes, six live rail tracks and a city road.
It provides easy access for transit users, connecting the Pickering Go Train station in the south to the Pickering Town Centre, offices, regional transit and college campuses in the north end.
“When we wanted this bridge built, we wanted the Go station to Pickering and what we’ve done here is connect Pickering to the world,” said Mayor Dave Ryan.
“This was something that was conceived back in 1993 and it took a number of years for that happen.”
The world record has caught transit users who cross the bridge by surprise.
I thought that there were bridges bigger than this so I’m pretty surprised,” Emily Dunseith said.
“I remember before it was built, so it’s really cool that something in Pickering is well known. It’s really awesome.”
The bridge’s iconic architecture is highlighted at night with close to 300 LED lights.
This Guinness World Record is not the first accolade for the GTA bridge. In 2019, it earned the City of Pickering’s Urban Design Award and the Engineering News Record Global Best Projects Award in the tunnel/bridge category.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
These snakes not only fake their own deaths, they use gory special effects to do it
Awards season may be over for human actors this year, but there’s no rest for some of nature’s most audacious thespians.