Phase two of Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation delayed again

Motorists who travel through downtown Toronto are catching a break as planned rehabilitation work on the Gardiner Expressway near Exhibition Place is being delayed once again.

Work to repair the section between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue, which is phase two of the six-phase project, had been scheduled to start in the second half of 2023, but CityNews has learned that work will not begin until next year, at the earliest.

“The contract for the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue is expected to be awarded this fall,” a City spokesperson said in an email.

“Following [the] contract award, some construction underneath the Gardiner may begin as early as later this year with construction on the expressway anticipated to begin in Spring 2024 and be complete in 2027.”

A map of the project with the timelines for each phase as updated in Feb. 2023. CityNews has learned the timeline for phase two will now be adjusted from 2024-2027. (City of Toronto)

Rehabilitation work on the aging expressway has been idle since spring 2021 when crews completed phase one between Jarvis and Cherry streets.

Phase two had originally been slated to begin months after phase one ended, but in an email to CityNews at the time, the City confirmed it had delayed the start of construction until 2022.

A follow-up with the City in September 2022 confirmed another delay with the start of phase two pushed into 2023. This latest update represents the third such delay with a start date now moved into 2024 and the anticipated completion date adjusted from 2026 to 2027.

The original timeline for the entire, six-phase rehabilitation strategy – which began in 2018 and also includes a realignment of its eastern portion along with new ramps to and from Lake Shore Boulevard – had been 2027. It was updated to 2030 shortly after phase one was completed.

Despite the nearly three-year delay in beginning the second phase, and with four more phases to complete beyond that, the City says their plan is still on track.

“The approved Transportation Services 2023-2032 Capital Plan currently envisages Rehabilitation of the Gardiner to be complete in 2030,” a City of Toronto spokesperson said.

“This will continue to be kept under review as implementation moves forward.”

Once construction does begin, drivers can expect lane restrictions in both directions for a three-year period while the steel girders and concrete decking are completely replaced.