CFN – Over the years Cornwall has lost a few gems because we tore them down in the name of modernization.
Two that readily come to mind are The Old Post Office at the corner of Pitt and Second Street and the other was The Capital Theatre.
These buildings were constructed many years ago, but have been demolished in the name of progress.
They are gone forever! Never to be reconstructed to the beauty that they once possessed. What we have in their stead leaves much to be desired; a yellow tin can and a building built sideways. Oh well, such is progress.
We are now in the process of demolishing the Seaway International Bridge. This bridge was built to replace the old Roosevelt Bridge, which has
also been demolished. It was used as a symbol for Cornwall for many years and has a beautiful view of the city and the Power Dam; not to mention The Beautiful St-Lawrence River.
Can some of this bridge be kept to act as a landmark for the City of Cornwall?
I’m thinking of the beautiful arch at the top of the bridge and the two pillars that hold this section up.
It could be retained to act as a “CN Tower” for the city. Imagine just this section retained and lit up at night with beautiful colored lights for all the city to see!
The lights could change the appearance of the bridge at night and transform it to be “a Crown” or “a Cake” or any other formation the imagination can will it to be. It could be a wonder and a tourist attraction. It could be accessible or private.
There is so much that we, as a city could use this section for. (A restaurant in the middle)? I’m sure someone could come up with plenty of ideas for it, if it could be retained before it’s gone for good.
Is it possible to save this section, before we make another mistake and destroy something that we have which is beautiful? I think we had better act fast or is it already too late to stop the demolition of something that I think is worthy of keeping?
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it sounds great, but to me, and I’m not a trained engineer, I don’t think the structure would be stable without the two side parts continuing down to ground level holding it and imagine the amount it would cost to hire an engineering firm to stabilize it enough.
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I miss the old Capital and Palace Theatres but buildings age and they always have to be kept up or they fall apart. The same thing goes with a house if you don’t keep fixing it it will eventually decay and fall. The old bridge built at the time of the Seaway when I was a child has to come down and for years there were repairs being made and cost too much to keep going so the government decided to take it down and there is no more Seaway traffic and the seaway traffic went elsewhere and that bridge was not needed in Cornwall anymore. When a bridge ages it will fall. The same is true with the Champlain Bridge in Montréal and the same is true with Mr. Maroun’s bridge in Detroit where Canada came in and offered Mr. Maroun to build another in its place.
Speaking about aging even my old bod had its day and this year I feel it more than ever before. My face looks younger than my years but the old carcass is feeling its age. LOL LOL. ROLF!
I said that almost a year ago that lights on bridge would be beautiful, the rainbow bridge
From what I understand one land bound pier will be retained as a lookout. As well, all in water piers will be retained due to costs involved in removing them.
Personally I’m happy the bridge is going. It’s been a sorry sight for years. Time to clean up Cornwall’s landscape and horizon.
Well, I’ll chip in to this conversation — I am a trained bridge engineer (disclaimer #1, I’m not licensed in Canada or Ontario).
I appreciate the sentiment here for sure. It’s a gorgeous bridge, and the type that we simply don’t build any more (after about WWII, material became cheaper than labor, and most bridges got a lot more boring).
That said, Shelley is right — the center span would not be stable on it’s own (disclaimer #2, I haven’t run any analysis, just engineering judgement here). You would need at least the two adjacent spans, and even that would likely require some retrofitting to work.
In some cases, governments are able to keep an old scenic bridge like this open to pedestrians (disclaimer #3, still requires renovating the structure) — unfortunately, that usually requires some space between the old bridge and the new one. And to do that while still lining up with the old road alignments, the new bridge becomes much more expensive.
It’s a shame, but I see why it has to go. The province has to prioritize spending, and keeping part of the old Seaway bridge would tie up funds that are needed elsewhere.
I can’t believe the lack of apathy towards the revitilizaation of the city of Cornwall. Only 6 likes and 5 comments as to how this could be of benefit or not. I thought many readers would jump on the band wagon and share their ideas about this or any other thing that they might deem appropriate.
Remember folks, once it’s gone, it’s GONE! Then you have absolutely no say al all!
Sooooo many buildings and structures in this city have already had this as their fate. Are their no other people who feel the same way is I do?
Miss Steak….Not everyone agrees with your desire to retain part of the old Seaway Bridge. To me it is an eyesore and the sooner it’s gone the better.
And as Shelley and Ian Ebersole pointed out the span could not be retained without supporting sections. One land bound pier will be retained as a lookout. Also all in water piers will be retained due to costs involved in removing them.
Perhaps if the bridge had been maintained over the years like the American side was then it might have been worth keeping. But as it was in its last few years it is and was an eyesore.