Gardiner Expressway lanes to be fully open by June 25

After city spent $3.4 million to accelerate work, lanes will open four months ahead of schedule

Thestar.com
June 15, 2016
By Jennifer Paglario

All lanes currently closed for repairs on the Gardiner Expressway will be open by June 25, weeks ahead of the already accelerated schedule.

After the city budgeted an additional $3.4 million to speed up the needed road repairs on a western section of the elevated expressway, Mayor John Tory announced the earlier than anticipated opening at a news conference Wednesday.

Tory said the good news means the lanes will be open for the “summer driving season” and Canada Day weekend. The mayor has made a point of trying to improve traffic congestion for motorists since his 2014 campaign against car-friendly Rob Ford.

Before the extra cash was promised, the Gardiner lanes - part of the second phase of rehabilitation from Strachan Ave. to Bathurst St. - were expected to open in October, putting the work four months ahead of that earlier schedule.

The city says the money went to fund additional workers and materials to get the job done faster.

Tory emphasized that the city estimated lost productivity costs for commuters as a result of lane closures at $1 million per day, arguing the extra money was well spent.

“I believe ... this is a modest price to pay in order to alleviate the suffering of commuters and the damage done to the economy, to family life and to the environment,” he said.

The exact date of opening, the city says, is “dependent on weather.”

After opening, speeds will be restricted temporarily to 70 km/h because a final asphalt layer will not be applied until the first scheduled weekend closure this fall.

The city also announced Wednesday that there would be overnight lane closures on the expressway in order to remove the work zone that’s been in place during the repairs.

Starting Thursday the Gardiner will be reduced to one lane in each direction every night until June 25 between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. On some nights the closure will begin slightly later and extend until as late as 8 a.m.

The city notes the closures depend on the weather and the times and dates could change. More details are available on the city’s website at toronto.ca/roadrestrictions .