The Gardiner Expressway is about to get a whole lot busier next week—and it will stay that way for the next three years.
Toronto will begin “critical rehabilitation work” March 25 on the Gardiner as the 60-year-old road reaches the “end of its service life,” according to a city press release. A combination of heavy daily use, weather, and salt have taken their toll on the aging expressway, leaving it in desperate need of repair.
“This construction is urgently needed to keep traffic flowing and keep our communities connected,” Mayor Olivia Chow said in the news release. “The city is committed to completing this section of work to ensure a state of good repair for generations to come as we focus on getting Toronto back on track.”
The city’s Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan will begin with either the east or west lane closed for pre-construction work with intermittent overnight closures of a second lane as required, according to the press release. The on-ramp from Lake Shore Boulevard east of Jameson Avenue will also be closed when workers shut down the expressway’s east lane. This work will run through April 14, with the exception of the Easter weekend. All lanes will also be open from April 6 at 11:59 p.m. to April 8.
The work will begin in earnest in mid-April with the highway reduced to two lanes in each direction between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue, the city said. The east on-ramp from Lake Shore Boulevard east of Jameson Avenue will also be closed and there will be other intermittent additional lane closures as required. The work will not be completed until mid-2027.
“To keep traffic flowing during construction, the city will use a detailed congestion management plan that includes diversions, traffic agents and signal timing adjustments,” the city said. “Traffic impacts will be monitored and further congestion management measures will be added as required.”
The city said it will attempt to limit the impact of the construction on road users and neighbouring residents.
Construction will primarily take place Monday to Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The work will include the replacement of 700 metres of the elevated bridge surface on the expressway, the rehabilitation of the structures underneath that support the elevated part of the road, and adding a new traffic management system and streetlights.
Other work, including girder removal and replacement, shifting of traffic barriers between work stages, and the delivery of materials, may be required at night.
“The rehabilitation of this stretch is complex as the roadway is elevated, very narrow and busy,” the city said. “Drivers may not see workers along the Gardiner during road closures, as much of the work will be done from underneath.”
The highway will be fully open with no lane restrictions to accommodate increased traffic during the FIFA World Cup, the city said. The road will be fully open from May to the end of July in 2026.
