City of Toronto Accelerates Repairs on Gardiner Expressway Bridges Ahead of Rehabilitation Plan

TORONTO – The City of Toronto announced plans to begin critical repairs on five bridges in Section 3 of the Gardiner Expressway in spring 2025. These repairs come ahead of the broader rehabilitation work scheduled for 2027-2031, addressing urgent needs identified during recent condition assessments.

The bridges slated for repair include the Park Lawn Road and Mimico Creek overpasses, the westbound on-ramp from Park Lawn Road over Mimico Creek, as well as the Kipling Avenue and Islington Avenue bridges over the Gardiner Expressway.

Under the Ontario-Toronto New Deal, the Ontario government will fund the replacement of the Park Lawn Road and Mimico Creek bridges and the westbound on-ramp, while the City will handle repairs to the Kipling Avenue and Islington Avenue bridges. The New Deal also includes a proposed upload of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the Ontario government, subject to third-party review.

City of Toronto to advance critical bridge repairs ahead of next stage of Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation plan

News Release: https://t.co/0xThzkB43U pic.twitter.com/svf6BEdPTb

— City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) December 20, 2024

Minimizing Disruption

The City has outlined a strategy to minimize disruption during construction. While lane closures and ramp restrictions are unavoidable, measures such as temporary turning lane modifications and traffic management tools will be implemented to ease congestion.

Key restrictions during the repairs include:

• Narrowed eastbound lanes from Mimico Creek to Park Lawn Road with no lane reductions.
• Reduction of westbound lanes from Park Lawn Road to Mimico Creek from four to three for approximately one year.
• Lane reductions at Park Lawn Road (single lane each direction for two months), Kipling Avenue, and Islington Avenue (from six lanes to four for eight months).
• Full closure of the westbound on-ramp at Park Lawn Road from November 2025 to April 2026.

The Ontario Food Terminal, a vital hub for food distribution, will have a dedicated detour route, with work scheduled to align with its low season to minimize operational disruptions.

Accelerated Timeline

The City plans to use lessons from ongoing Section 2 rehabilitation work between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue, which began in late 2023. This includes early completion incentives and round-the-clock construction schedules to meet compressed timelines.

Construction on the bridges will pause from May to July 2026 to accommodate increased traffic during the FIFA World Cup™ and is expected to conclude by December 2026.

Ensuring Safety and Reliability

Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the importance of maintaining the Gardiner Expressway’s safety and reliability. “The Gardiner is old and falling apart. We must upgrade it to keep it safe and keep Toronto moving. We are working hard to ease congestion for those living and working in the area,” said Chow.

For more information on the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation Plan, visit the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/gardiner-expressway/gardiner-expressway-rehabilitation-strategy.

SOURCE City of Toronto