16th Avenue Bailey Bridge

Old (16th Avenue) Bailey Bridge is a Bailey bridge located below 16th Avenue (York Regional Road 73) east of Reesor Road within Rouge Park in Markham, Ontario, Canada. The bridge crossed the Little Rouge Creek, a tributary of the Rouge River. A new bridge was built above this bridge to provide two way access for 16th Avenue east of Ressor Road. The old bridge is in situ with ends fenced off to prevent trespassing.

History
The 21.3 m wood-plank-deck steel bridge was constructed in 1945. It was last restored in 1965. Little has changed for the traffic in the area, which is still rural and agricultural with land use protected as is within the boundaries of Rouge National Urban Park.

Replacement
An assessment by York Region and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority in 2007 suggested the bridge be removed when the road was realigned and widened, though still noted that it "is of heritage interest", although it was, at the time, not listed in the Markham Heritage Inventory. In a 2010 report from the Transportation Services Committee to the Regional Council, Rouge Park management indicated their desire to maintain the Bailey bridge for pedestrian use. In mid-2011, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority accepted the proposal to save the bridge for use in a future trail as part of Rouge National Urban Park by Parks Canada, after 16th Avenue was realigned and widened to eliminate the jog at Reesor Road.

By 2014, the realignment was complete and overpass built over the bridge. Roadway sections that formerly dipped downward to meet the old bridge are now gravel embankments for the new bridge. Old abutments remain in place as the old bridge is still in place. Mesh fencing closes off either end of the Bailey bridge to discourage trespassing.

The bridge was an early example of a Bailey bridge. They are now rare in Ontario.