Debate over rebuilding of Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway reignited prior to mayoral by-election

With work completed on the reconstruction of the Gardiner Expressway and millions of dollars spent, a potential mayoral candidate and various community groups want to revisit the budget and kill the project, framing it a byelection issue.

The construction and rehabilitation of the Gardiner Expressway have felt neverending, with plans to continue the massive project along the eastern portion for the next few years. That includes rebuilding the section between Cherry Street and the Don Valley Parkway, a bit further north, as part of what was once called a “hybrid” option to free up space near the Port Lands.

“We want to get the facts about the Gardiner. There’s still time to change and adjust course and work. What we’re lacking at this point are facts around the costs of the construction in terms of the ramps,” said Gardiner Expressway Transparency spokesperson Albert Koehl.

The debate over whether the work should be happening dates back nearly a decade when the alternative was to tear it down. Discussions concerning money and traffic were at the centre of it all.

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“This is about preserving the legacy of Fred ‘big daddy’ Gardiner and the metro chair in the 1950s and 60s. Do you want to maintain his legacy by rebuilding this expressway, or do you want to review the numbers and see if there are better options?” asked Koehl.

In response to recent questions raised by councillor and prospective mayoral candidate Josh Matlow regarding updated cost estimates, city staff have said approximately $500 million has been spent on parts of the project already completed or under construction.

The preliminary cost for reconstruction of the new elevated portion is approximately $450 million as of last year.

“Even though $1 billion is incomprehensible, what is comprehensible is that it’s preventing us from doing a lot of the things we want to do to make a better city. To provide for people who are homeless, to provide for people with mental health issues, to provide operating funds for the TTC,” said Koehl.

There have been warnings from the city and those who say the connection is needed that $340 million of work already done would be lost. Additional costs related to another redesign would be likely if removing the Gardiner was considered again.

Any questions brought up at the city’s Infrastructure committee, chaired by Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, would be an attempt to spark debate about what happens beyond this year’s budget that has already been approved.

Rebuilding the Gardiner from Cherry Street to the DVP isn’t expected to start for a few more years.