Contractor faces financial penalties if Gardiner off-ramp replacement is delayed

This week is expected to be frustrating and busy for drivers as they adjust to the newly closed roadway.

Thestar.com
April 17, 2017
By Jennifer Pagliaro

The closure of a busy downtown Gardiner Expressway ramp caused back-ups on the first day of permanent closure Monday. But things could be worse Tuesday when traffic levels return to normal volumes.

And the congestion will last until a new Lower Simcoe ramp is completed in January but city staff say the closure of the York/Bay/Yonge streets spiral ramp - which carried 10,000 cars during rush hour - will be worth the wait. However, that hasn’t stopped readers from asking questions about the project including if it is really necessary and what is being done to make sure it is completed on time. The Star looks at the construction plans and contingencies:

Is the ramp closed for good?

Yes. The city has decided to demolish what has become known as the “Hot Wheels” exit ramp and replace it with a new wider ramp to Harbour St. at Lower Simcoe St. Harbour St. will also be widened from three to four lanes between Lower Simcoe and Bay Sts. and the land under the old spiral ramp will be redesigned as an improved park space.

Why replace it at all?

Like much of the Gardiner, the ramp, which is more than 50 years old, was reaching the end of its service life. Even if the city decided to keep the spiral ramp up, it “would have been closed to undertake the required rehabilitation,” Frank Clarizio, director of design and construction for the Gardiner rehabilitation, explained in an email Monday.

When the city reviewed the ramp in 2013, an environmental assessment recommended a new ramp to improve traffic flow, access to the waterfront, pedestrian and cyclist safety and free up park space. The new Lower Simcoe ramp will also be the first time the city integrates a de-icing system into a roadway.

How much does the ramp work cost?

The contract, awarded to Grascan Construction Ltd. in June after a call for bids, totals $30.4 million. Grascan was the only bidder, according to a staff report. Other potential bidders, who had picked up tender packages and were contacted by city staff, said they lacked the resources to respond to the call for bids in time.

Will construction be happening 24/7 to speed up completion?

Work will mostly be limited to the period between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The main reason, Clarizio explained is to limit the impact of noise on nearby condo residents.

On Monday, Mayor John Tory told reporters noisy demolition work required the city to plan accordingly.

“We’re going to be working at some times through the night, 24 hours a day, but of course there are other times like the jack hammering that will be part of the first phase of this when I suspect my life would be in jeopardy if we were jack hammering 24 hours a day,” he said. “We’ll be working 24 hours when it is possible for us to do so, so we can get this done as quickly as possible. I’ve certainly made it clear I want this done as quickly as it can possibly can be done.”

What happens if the construction takes longer than scheduled?

The contract allows the city to apply financial penalties for each day the contractor exceeds scheduled completion. The contract specifically, sets out that the new Lower Simcoe ramp and four lanes of Harbour St. between Lower Simcoe and Bay Sts. must be open to car traffic no later than 164 calendar days after the old ramp closure.

So, how do I get off the Gardiner downtown during construction?

Drivers can still exit using the Jameson Ave., Spadina Ave. or Jarvis St. ramps. During demolition - between now and May 31 - the on ramp at Rees St. will also be closed between Monday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., which staff hope will limit the overnight demolition work required. Harbour St. between Lower Simcoe and Bay St. will be reduced to two eastbound lanes and intermittently reduced to one lane between May 1 and June 15.

The multi-use trail from Rees St. to Lower Simcoe St. will be closed during the project. Cyclists are being directed to the Martin Goodman Trail on Queens Quay. GO Transit has also adjusted its bus schedules to reflect increased travel times.