The commute into and out of downtown Toronto via the Gardiner Expressway is poised to become more challenging as the City of Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan is set to resume this spring, as confirmed by Toronto House . According to a city spokesperson, the contract for the forthcoming construction work was awarded in October 2023, with preliminary work already underway.
Rehabilitation efforts commenced beneath the Gardiner Expressway in November 2023, with lane reductions anticipated to begin as early as late March 2024, depending on weather conditions, spanning from Dufferin Street to Strachan Avenue, limiting traffic to two lanes in each direction.
This undertaking marks phase two of the six-phase rehabilitation project approved by Toronto City Council between 2014 and 2016, necessitated by the Expressway’s aging infrastructure, extensive daily use, and exposure to harsh weather conditions and road salt. Despite phase one’s completion between Jarvis and Cherry streets in April 2021, phase two’s commencement was postponed, contributing to adjustments in the overall project timeline from 2027 to 2030.
However, uncertainties persist regarding meeting even this revised target due to factors such as supply chain disruptions, material availability and costs, skilled labor shortages, and the need for citywide construction coordination to mitigate disruptions.
While phase two construction is expected to extend until mid-2027, lane restrictions will be temporarily lifted for two months during the 2026 FIFA World Cup to accommodate increased traffic demand. Originally estimated at $2.5 billion in September 2015, the project’s revised cost projection of $3.6 billion was submitted for council review in August 2016.
The impact of the 2023 agreement for provincial control over the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway on project costs and funding responsibilities between levels of government remains unclear, as ongoing discussions between the City and Province continue to advance.
