Ontario to ‘speed up’ Gardiner Expressway construction in Toronto

The Gardiner Expressway construction, which has caused gridlock traffic, will be accelerated.

Earlier this year, the City of Toronto announced construction for “critical rehabilitation” work on the busy highway would take three years to complete.

But after months of gridlock traffic, the Ontario government is allocating $73 million to accelerate construction by at least one year, Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation announced today (July 24).

The province is providing the funding to the City of Toronto on the condition that the construction work is done up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This accelerated timeline moves the construction completion date from April 2027 to at least April 2026, Sarkaria said.

Sarkaria said the highway benefits Ontario’s economy by an estimated $273 million a year through the transport of goods and services.

“Our government is helping get the 140,000 drivers from Toronto, Peel, Halton, York, Hamilton and across Ontario who use the Gardiner Expressway each day out of gridlock and where they need to go faster,” said Sarkaria.

“The practical solutions we are implementing to speed up construction, like 24/7 work, will provide major economic benefits to Ontario and make life easier and more convenient for drivers from across the province, and in the local community.”

The funds will support contractors working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with multiple shifts per day. Plans include “relaxing noise restrictions and overnight lane closures.”

Asked how the noisy construction might impact residents, Mayor Olivia Chow said quieter construction work will be planned for the overnight shifts.

Chow said residents are frustrated with traffic delays.

“Together with the provincial government, we can rebuild the Gardiner Expressway more quickly and ease the painful congestion in downtown Toronto,” said Chow. “Working together, we can repair our aging infrastructure, ensure that the Gardiner Expressway is safe and help people get around our city easier.”

Additional measures also being supported through this funding agreement to improve traffic flow include modification of the Jameson to West Bound Gardiner on-ramp, opening a left-turn lane at Spadina Avenue from Lake Shore East Boulevard and

The current phase of work on the Gardiner Expressway involves the full demolition and rebuilding of 700 metres of elevated roadway from Dufferin Street to Strachan Avenue, rehabilitating the supporting structures and adding a new traffic management system and streetlights.

Lead photo: Adam Moss