Friday, 1 March 2024

Collins Bay's Causeway Construction


Another post from Collins Bay, this one describing the realignment of Bath Road, Hillview Road and the Grand Trunk/Canadian National mainline tracks. (Whig clipping dated November 9, 1922 - top). This area has been a perennially dangerous crossing point, with many vehicle and pedestrian collisions, injuries and fatalities profiled in the Whig's pages. The Hillview Road level crossing was closed in 1995 after Hillview Road was restricted to one-way northbound traffic. Between Collins Bay and the present Gardiners Road there were at least three private level crossings that have been closed in recent years, also following crossing incidents.

The May, 2011 issue of the Limelight newsletter published by the Kingston Historical Society (KHS - Vol 13 No 5) contained this excellent article by Collins Bay historian Stewart Renfrew. I found this comprehensive account using the KHS's useful Topic Index compiled by Paul Van Nest:

For future reference, the James Reid advertising supplement was actually titled "aswesawit", not "aswewait". Because who wants to be known as waiting for the undertaker?
Aerial views: 1953 (above) and 2004 (below) from Snapshot Kingston
An 1878 atlas image that seems to show the Grand Trunk crossing Bath Road (twice, once out of view to the right), the bay, and Collins Bay Road at left:

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