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
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.