Toronto delays decision on Gardiner until early 2015

A decision on the fate of the Gardiner Expressway won’t come until early 2015.

City staff members are recommending the 2.4-kilometre portion from Jarvis Street to Logan Avenue be replaced with an eight-lane stretch of Lake Shore Boulevard.

The city’s public works and infrastructure committee debated the proposal on Tuesday, but ultimately decided to hold off on a decision until after the next municipal election on Oct. 27.

During the meeting, Redpath Sugar – whose factory is along Lake Ontario at the foot of Jarvis – recommended keeping the Gardiner.

Coun. Doug Ford, who is not on the committee but was at the meeting, recommended keeping the Gardiner. He said it would create traffic chaos if it was removed.

Click here to read the agenda item.

In early February, a new report by city staff found that tearing down the Gardiner is the best option and the cheapest option. The removal of the Gardiner would cost $330-million, according to the report.

The detailed report was the result of an environmental assessment of the aging artery and looked at the cost and traffic impact of maintaining, improving, replacing or removing the Gardiner between Jarvis and Logan.

How should this portion of the Gardiner be dealt with? Share your thoughts in the comments.

With files from Erin Criger, CityNews.ca

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