News Roads & Bridges
Demolition on east portion of Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway to begin Aug. 31

Toronto’s aging Gardiner Expressway is set to undergo a major ramp improvement beginning next week.

The City of Toronto and project leader Waterfront Toronto have announced construction details of the planned Lake Shore Boulevard East project, including removal of the Logan Avenue ramp at the most eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway.

The expressway ramp closure, which begins Aug. 31 at 9.p.m, is part of the Gardiner Expressway Rehabilitation Plan and the Port Lands Flood Mitigation Protection project.

Construction work on Lake Shore Boulevard East will begin in November once the ramp is removed.

The long-term plans for the roadway will make it safer, while improving public access to the Port Lands, says the City of Toronto in a statement.

The planned construction includes:

• Permanent removal of the Logan Avenue ramp at the east end of the Gardiner Expressway
• Widening and lengthening the Lake Shore Bridge over the Don River
• Rebuilding the roadway between Don Roadway and Carlaw Avenue, including new, safer intersections, pedestrian and cycling facilities

Removal of the Logan Avenue ramp will allow for the Lake Shore Bridge to be lengthened and widened.

Once the Lake Shore Bridge is re-engineered, the new space will accommodate bike lanes, pedestrian paths and a new linear park, and allow for the re-design and naturalization of the Don River, which will help to protect against future floods.

This package of work was planned and approved in 2016 as part of the larger $2.2-billion Gardiner Expressway Rehabilitation Plan. Other key stakeholders incude Metrolinx and Toronto Hydro.

Construction is expected to wrap up in 2024.

During construction, changes to lane configuration and traffic signal timing will help to ensure flow of traffic.

The Gardiner Rehabilitation Plan calls for new DVP ramps to eventually be built further north as well as the eventual construction of new access ramps at Cherry Street.