The first bridge over the Vale of Avoca was an iron bridge, built in 1888. The bridge was built by
John Thomas Moore in the hopes of encouraging investment in his new subdivision, Moore Park. Under the condition that he build the bridge, the
Township of York purchased a strip of land across the valley and leased it to Moore, who was in return given the St. Clair Avenue
right-of-way between Avoca Avenue and Inglewood Drive. On December 16, 1912, Moore Park was
annexed into Toronto at the instigation of landowners eager to obtain municipal services. Due to growing safety concerns regarding the old iron bridge,
Toronto City Council authorized construction of a new bridge in 1922. Unlike the old bridge, this one would follow the straight alignment of St. Clair Avenue East (renamed in 1914). Two houses were
expropriated and demolished, and the new structure built over two years at the cost of $716,653.58 (equivalent to $ million in ) It opened to traffic in November or December, 1924. The old bridge remained open and operational throughout, with traffic detouring around construction on the eastern side. The former structure crossed the valley on an angle, beginning at St. Clair in the east and crossing to Pleasant Boulevard; it followed an electric line already in place. The eastern abutment and several concrete footings are still in place near the rim of the ravine as reminders of the old bridge. In 1973, the
City of Toronto government officially named the bridge structure and the ravine as
The Vale of Avoca, after either the poem by
Thomas Moore (after whom John Thomas Moore is named), or the
River Avoca river valley in
Ireland. The bridge was renovated in 1985. == Popular references ==