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WednesdsaySeptember 19,2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A3 B r o n t e R a d ia l B r id g e o p e n fo r t r a f f ic By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF After more than 30 years of being deferred for a variety of reasons the new Bronte Radial Bridge opened for business yesterday afternoon. About 300 people turned out to share stories and see the official opening of the new $10.5 million bridge yesterday at 2 p.m. It's 122 metres of concrete slab on steel girders built by contractor Mardave Construction Ltd. and designed by architects McCormick Rankin "W hat does all that mean? Well, there's 2,700 metres o f concrete on top o f 650 tonnes of steel. The box beams were of a length and weight that only one crane in Ontario could lift it into place," said Town of Oakville public works director Ray Green. "W hen Oakville got its bridge on Rebecca Street, we were promised that w e'd get ours the next year. How long is that?" said West River Street resident Irene Bumby, who came to Bronte as the war bride of former OPP officer A1 Bumby. "For once it's a pleasure to say to a constituent that you're wrong. You were wrong Mrs. Bumby, here's your bridge," said Ward 1 Councillor Kevin Flynn. Bumby confessed that she'll be 84 on Halloween and said, "It's a nice birthday present." Others just came out to soak in the civic pride. "We came out because it's just such a festive day," said six-year Bronte residents George and Sally Bettencourt who were out to celebrate with their son Reece, 3, and daughter Kamile, 2. The Bettencourts, like many in the area, hope it will quiet down Lakeshore Road and Bronte Road South. "I nicknamed Lakeshore Road maniac alley," confided Bumby. "The bridge has been a long time in coming," said 52-year resident Joan Gilbert who was there with her camera. Neighbour Cathy Cambone however w asn't con vinced the bridge's three-lane configuration was large enough. "It's ridiculous," she pronounced senger/freight train of the Toronto/Hamilton/Buffalo Radial Railway. The original Bronte radial bridge was built in 1904 and the railway service to Oakville from Hamilton officially opened in 1906. Young's dad was a motorman for more than 13 years before he left to buy a farm on what's now Burloak Drive. "He was with the radial railway from 1897 to 1910. He earned 12-and-a-half cents an hour and when he finished, he earned 20 cents an hour," recalled Young. "I rode that railway many times as a child," said Young. However, as one of those who got the first ride across the bridge in an old-fashioned fire truck yes terday, Young said she was so excited about her first ride in a fire truck -- Deputy Chief John deHooge even gave her a lift onto that truck -- that she con fessed she didn't think of days gone by. "The Bronte Radial Bridge recaptures a piece of local history," said Robinson. Mulvale, too, recognized the coming full circle of history while long-time Bronte area resident Dr. George Atkins, 84, was full o f reminiscences. He talked about the Riggs family, Arthur, Joe and their three sisters who farmed at the site of the cur rent Rebecca Street/Bronte Road firehall. One o f those sisters, M aude, took off to Hollywood and made a few pictures. "She was quite a lady around these parts," he said. Another sister was quite different. She'd collect eggs from the chickens and take them to the Hamilton Market -- via the radial railway. The railway ran hourly from the Oakville station, formerly located at the com er of Randall and Thomas Streets to Fourth Line. A return trip cost 50 cents, while a return trip from Bronte to Oakville cost a dime. The railway ceased operation in 1925 due to insufficient traffic due to the increasesd use of the automobile The radial bridge over Bronte Creek remained open to pedestrians until that, too, closed in 1961. Photo by Barrie Erskine An old O akville Fire D epartm ent fire truck was the first vehicle to cross the new Bronte R adial B ridge yesterday as the structure opened for m otor and pedestrian traffic. T h at's O akville M ayor Ann M ulvale along with councillors Ralph Robinson and Kevin Flynn enjoying the ride. before participating in festivities. history that will be placed on the bridge. Two wide lanes exist on the west side of the The five winners included retired firefighter bridge and they taper to an eastbound and a west Harold Joyce, Halton Region employee and a Bronte bound lane, as well as a left-tum eastbound lane at boy Dave McCleary and Mamie Parkin who used to Bronte Road and Rebecca Street. That turn lane will come to Oakville to visit her grandmother on the old accommodate traffic heading north on Bronte Road. radial railway. "It's better than nothing at all. I think it's just, "My grandmother used to say `don't put you foot grand, it's just too bad it didn't happen years ago," down that crack," said Parkin. said Oakville native Elizabeth Bridge who wished Other award winners included Michael Provias her dad, Frank McDermott, who walked the steel and Elizabeth Young. girders as a kid, could be there to see it. Young was there thanks to her grandson Andrew Five winners of the Name The Bridge Contest Cumming, 21, who brought his over-85 grandmoth picked up a plaque for their efforts, while area coun er to the opening. cillors Flynn and Ralph Robinson helped Mayor Young arrived with a faded photo of her dad, Ann Mulvale unveil a plaque outlining the bridge's Chris Fothergill riding the No. 10 combination pas You'll never be without focal news stories if you have The Oakville Beaver delivered to your home 3 times a week V ie ( % r thoughts and prayers are with the fam ilies and friends o f loved ones who tragically lost their lives in the United States. We share your sorrow and your p ain . 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