At the Surface

North of Bloor Street, part of the subway ran in an open cut, that is, a valley lower than the surrounding land but open to the sky. The route ran through residential lands parallel to Yonge Street, and some houses were expropriated and demolished to make way for the cut. Bridges were built to allow some streets to continue over the subway cut, while other streets became dead ends. In two spots, where the subway ran under the CPR train tracks and where it crossed from the east to the west side of Yonge Street, the subway was tunnelled underground without affecting the surface.

Excavation, Davisville station and yards area May 15, 1951 Photographer: Canada Pictures Limited City of Toronto Archives Series 381, File 126, Item 8258-10	Open cut looking south from Jackes Avenue bridge, just south of St. Clair Avenue April 20, 1951 Photographer: Canada Pictures Limited City of Toronto Archives Series 381, File 188, Item 8170-2

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