‘Major’ construction gets underway on Adelaide ahead of Ontario Line work

A heads-up for drivers travelling in the downtown core and into the Moss Park area, as some major construction work starts Monday on Adelaide Street ahead of the Ontario Line subway construction.

The City of Toronto said work along Adelaide from Bathurst to Parliament streets will include “critical upgrades to water, road and cycling infrastructure,” as well as completing TTC streetcar track work.

“The project, in coordination with the TTC and Metrolinx, bundles several construction needs on Adelaide Street into one project to complete the work as quickly as possible and minimize prolonged disruption,” the City said in a release.

The work is expected to be completed in spring 2023.

The construction was supposed to start in early August and finish up by end of this year but the City said the work was delayed to locate underground utilities.

Headaches for drivers on Adelaide

The City said construction will take place in phases and see sections of Adelaide reduced to one lane of shared traffic and partial intersection closures for several months.

“With such a long stretch of Adelaide down to just a single lane, drivers and cyclists will be looking for alternates. Unfortunately there are not a lot of options. Because of the King Street Transit Priority Corridor (which goes between Bathurst and Jarvis), King is not a viable option. This will in turn put a huge strain on Queen and Front, both of which area already extremely busy routes to begin with,” said CityNews 680 airborne traffic reporter Jordan Kerr.

“Going further north won’t help either, as the closures on College between Bathurst and Bay have already displaced drivers to Gerrard and Dundas. With both College and Adelaide closures taking place in the same timespan, traffic going east and west downtown is only going to get worse.”

Starting on Monday, crews will prepare sections of Adelaide between Duncan and Bay streets for the road work, which may lead to some localized closures. Then on Tuesday, Adelaide along that stretch will be reduced to one shared lane for vehicles and cyclists. The intersection of Adelaide and Simcoe Street will be partially closed, with no through traffic south of Adelaide.

Construction on the stretch between Duncan Street to York Street is expected to be completed by the end of November.

Then on Thursday, the intersection of Adelaide and University Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction. The work is expected to be completed by Nov. 15.

Due to the construction and road restrictions, drivers are being urged to avoid travelling through the area unless they are going to a particular destination on Adelaide.

Work being done ahead of Ontario Line construction

The work also includes reinstating streetcar tracks on Adelaide Street from Charlotte to York streets.

“These tracks will provide operational flexibility and improved service for TTC streetcar customers during the many construction projects downtown,” the City said.

Earlier this year, the Ford government officially broke ground on the Ontario Line — almost three years after first announcing it.

When completed, the almost 16-kilometre, 15-stop Ontario Line will connect with 40 other transit routes, including GO train lines, TTC subway and streetcar stops and a new east-west light rail line that is currently being built.

Last December, Toronto City Council approved a plan that could lead to seven years of road closures in the downtown core as part of the Ontario Line construction, including the complete shutdown of Queen Street between Victoria and Bay streets for four years starting in May 2023.

Some of the other construction work on Adelaide includes:

• Replacing a watermain that is more than 115 years old as well as the City-owned portion of substandard water services from York to Victoria streets
• Relocating the cycle track on Adelaide Street, from Bathurst to Parliament streets, to the north side of the street to improve safety and install new bike signals
• Upgrading pedestrian access and safety at various locations along Adelaide from Spadina Avenue to York Street
• Renewing the roadway on Adelaide Street, from Spadina Avenue to York Street

Upcoming traffic restrictions on Adelaide

• On October 24, there may be some localized closures on Adelaide Street, in sections from Duncan Street to Bay Street, to prepare for the upcoming work.
• Beginning October 25, Adelaide Street, from Duncan to Bay streets, will be reduced to one shared lane for vehicles and cyclists. There will be a partial intersection closure on Adelaide Street at Simcoe Street, with no through traffic south of Adelaide Street. Construction on the stretch between Duncan Street to York Street is expected to be completed by the end of November.
• Beginning October 27, the intersection of Adelaide Street and University Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Anticipated completion of this work is before November 15.
• Beginning the week of November 7, Adelaide Street, from Widmer to Duncan streets, will be reduced to one shared lane. Adelaide Street will have partial intersection closures at John and Duncan streets with no through traffic south of Adelaide Street.
• Once work on Adelaide Street from Duncan Street to York Street is complete, Adelaide Street, from Spadina Avenue to Widmer Street, will be reduced to one shared lane and there will be partial intersection closures at Peter and Widmer Streets with no through traffic south of Adelaide Street and no access to Charlotte Street from Adelaide Street.
• Adelaide Street, from Bay Street to Victoria Street, will also be reduced to one shared lane for watermain replacement and upgrades to cycling infrastructure. The City will share timing details of this work once confirmed.

The City said depending on the progress, some lanes may reopen during the winter and close again once the weather warms up.

Officials also given the type of construction taking place and the sequence of the work to be carried out, there may be times when sections of the work zone may appear inactive.

“This is particularly true during watermain replacement when the new watermain is being flushed and water quality tested before being put into service,” the City said.

Businesses in the area of the construction will remain open and pedestrian access around the site will be maintained.