Ironworkers Local 736

Throwback Thursday:

Reposted •

Burlington Bay Skyway

📍Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway

Today, the Skyway remains a defining gateway into Hamilton, carrying tens of thousands of vehicles daily while offering sweeping views of the harbour and lake.

Officially opened on October 30, 1958, the bridge was designed by Hamilton architect John Turner Bell and formed a critical link in the Queen Elizabeth Way, allowing uninterrupted highway travel over the busy shipping canal.

Earlier low-level bridges struggled to handle increasing automobile traffic, and the situation became urgent in 1952 when the freighter W.E. Fitzgerald struck and destroyed the existing bascule bridge, severing a vital transportation link. The accident forced thousands of vehicles to detour through Hamilton, accelerating plans for a high-level crossing.

Construction of the new Skyway began in 1954 as one of the largest steel bridge projects in North America at the time. Stretching approximately 7,700 feet, the bridge was engineered with a 120-foot clearance to allow ships to pass freely beneath.

When it opened, the $17 million structure was the longest bridge in Canada and among the longest in North America. Premier Leslie Frost, Hamilton Mayor Lloyd D. Jackson, and other dignitaries presided over the opening ceremony before leading the first official convoy across the span.

nitially, the Skyway operated as a toll bridge, with charges ranging from 15 to 45 cents collected at a series of toll booths at the southern approach. While tolls helped offset construction costs, they proved controversial—particularly among truck drivers, many of whom avoided the bridge altogether. Despite generating revenue, the toll system was ultimately deemed inefficient and unpopular, and it was permanently removed on December 28, 1973.

As traffic volumes increased, the need for expansion became clear. In the 1980s, a second parallel span was constructed, creating the modern twin Skyway configuration. In 1988, the bridge was officially renamed the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway in honour of the Ontario Minister of Highways who had championed its development.