Downtown section of Bloor West shuts down today for construction
Posted November 3, 2023 1:44 pm.
Last Updated November 8, 2023 11:17 am.
The City of Toronto is accelerating construction on a portion of Bloor Street West downtown, but for drivers, it means a major closure until the end of the year.
Starting on Wednesday, Nov. 8, the westbound lanes of Bloor will be closed between Avenue Road and Spadina Avenue. Only one eastbound lane will be open to motorists.
The City recommends drivers using Dupont, Harbord, or College streets to navigate around the closure.
The closure is scheduled to remain in effect until the end of December.
The westbound closure of Bloor between the two major intersections also impacts cyclists, as officials say only one eastbound cycle track will be available.
“During this phase, there will be signage noting a cycling detour for westbound travel on Bay Street, Wellesley Street, Hoskin Avenue/Harbord Street and Brunswick Avenue,” the City says in a release.
The sidewalks will remain open on both sides of the streets for pedestrians.
This portion of the work wasn’t scheduled to begin until next spring, but the City is scrapping that timeline in order to get things done more quickly.
Since July, this section of Bloor has been undergoing road reconstruction, which also includes replacement of the sidewalks and the addition of raised cycle tracks both ways.
The City says once the work is complete on Bloor between Avenue and Spadina, construction will pause over the winter, allowing drivers and cyclists access to the eastbound and westbound lanes.
“In spring 2024, crews will complete the final stage of construction, which will make safety improvements to the intersections of Bloor and St. George Streets and Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue. This work will require full intersection closures,” officials say.
The City says it will release a timing of this work in the spring.
