Demise of the Neighbourhood

Transportation Development

Hamilton began an ambitious program of developing its transportation systems to accommodate its growing population and expanded industrial base.

As Stelco grew, so did the need for well-maintained roads and highways to get into and out of its factory site as well as parking space for its ever-growing workforce.

Industrial Parkway plan showing Burlington Street. — In 1966, the City revealed its plan to ease traffic congestion along the industrial waterfront with an Industrial Parkway that cut right through what was left of the Brightside neighbourhood. Its northern tip had already been turned into parking lots by this time. (Courtesy of Hamilton Public Library. Source: <em>The Hamilton Spectator</em>, 31 Oct. 1966)

The view today from under the Industrial Drive Overpass. To the right you can see the few houses that remain on the south side of Burlington Street, just after Birmingham. Note the date “1970” stamped into the bridge at the top left side of the image. (Courtesy of Simon Orpana)

A section under the Burlington Street overpass. — The view today between the two lanes of Industrial Drive, east and west, near close by where the majestic Brightside Hotel once stood. (Courtesy of Simon Orpana)

The view today looking west towards Stelco’s Wilcox Gate as Industrial Drive descends. (Courtesy of Simon Orpana)

The view today looking as cars descend Industrial Drive to meet the pothole-riddled Burlington Street, the Eastern portion of it named by the Canadian Automobile Association as Ontario’s worst road from 2016 to 2018. (Courtesy of Simon Orpana)

Hand-drawn image of the Industrial Overpass looking east, Brightside neighbourhood on right. — The view of the Industrial Overpass looking east from just about where the Brightside Hotel once stood. You can see the few remaining houses of Brightside that lay along the south side of Burlington Street on the right. (Drawing by and courtesy of Matt McInnes, 2018).

Burlington Street looking west showing Stelco Burlington Street Gate — A 1980s rare view looking over Industrial Ave heading west. You can see the Escarpment at the left horizon heading toward Hamilton’s skyline. Just to the left of the two big white cylinders of Canadian Liquid Air, you can see the few Brightside houses that remain. Across them stands a parking lot built after the other homes in the area had been razed. The Homer & Wilson Ltd. can be seen amid all the parked cars. (Courtesy of Stephen Lechniak)

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