Spring and Summer Construction Update

One of the things I hear most often is how frustrated people are with the increased congestion and travel times for all road users brought on by large construction projects. This summer will unfortunately see more projects that impact how we move around in Ward 14. 

Small businesses in and around these various construction areas will be particularly affected. I encourage everyone to shop local and support the many wonderful local businesses that help make Toronto-Danforth such a great place.

Rail Corridor Construction - Eastern to Pape

Beginning in early May Metrolinx will begin to construct access ramps into the joint rail corridor at the bridges between Eastern and Pape. Temporary sidewalk closures may be required during the initial construction of the access ramps. The city has been clear that they expect each site to maintain the highest possible level of safety for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users. The city is also requiring that temporary closures be removed at the end of each day and not continue overnight.

For any concerns about the way Metrolinx and their contractors are operating you can contact Joanne Tam ([email protected]), Brian Sullivan ([email protected]) and copy Terry Francoeur ([email protected]) and my office ([email protected]).

I have asked city staff to ensure Metrolinx provides more specific construction notices are provided to the neighbourhood ahead of the work beginning at each bridge. Their general notice can be found here.

The initial work beginning in May is focused on the construction of the access ramps into the joint rail corridor. The bridge work will commence later and will require longer term sidewalk closures. I will provide more information closer to that time.

Downtown Queen Street Closure

Metrolinx will also be closing Queen Street between Bay Street and Victoria Street beginning Monday, May 1st for an estimated four and a half year period for Ontario Line construction. To accommodate this work, 501 Queen streetcars will divert both ways via McCaul Street, Dundas Street, and Broadview Avenue to their regular route. 501B Queen replacement buses will operate as follows:

• Eastbound: Bathurst Street, east on Queen Street West, south on Bay Street, east on King Street, north on Church Street and east on Queen Street East, to Broadview Avenue.
• Westbound: River Street, west on Queen Street East, south on Church Street, west on Richmond Street, north on Bay Street, west on Queen Street West to Bathurst Street.

Customers can transfer to and from buses on streetcars at the following stops:

• Eastbound: On Queen Street West at John Street. On Broadview Avenue, north of Queen Street East.
• Westbound: On River Street, south of Dundas Street East. On Queen Street West at John Street.

You can find a map of the TTC detours here.

Pedestrian access will be maintained along Queen Street while Yonge Street will continue to be accessible to north and southbound traffic.

Metrolinx had proposed that the TTC run bus service for the duration of the closure. However, the city is instead requiring Metrolinx to pay for streetcar tracks on Adelaide Street that can be used in addition to Richmond Street as a detour beginning in 2024. Metrolinx initially said they couldn't construct the tracks in a timely fashion, but the city found a solution that will restore streetcar service along Richmond Street and Adelaide Street in early 2024.

I want to note that the city’s Downtown Relief Line Plan called for the Queen Station to be constructed in a different fashion that would have been less disruptive.

Coxwell and Gerrard TTC Track Work

The intersection of Coxwell Avenue and Gerrard Street East will also be impacted by TTC and Toronto Water track repair and watermain replacement work at the intersection. From May to mid-June the intersection will remain open to traffic. In mid-June the intersection will close until mid to late July to complete the work.

You can find more information here.

Broadview Streetcar Track Work

Beginning in early July, the TTC tracks along Broadview Avenue between Gerrard Street East and Broadview Station will be replaced as they've reached their end of service life and are beginning to crack in multiple places.

This work has been coordinated to ensure no impact to Taste of the Danforth in August.

More details on this project can be found here.

The city is pushing to complete this work ahead of additional Metrolinx construction at Pape Avenue and Riverdale Avenue beginning later this year to avoid overlapping closures on parallel routes.

This work was originally scheduled to be completed at the same time as the watermain construction done in 2021, but the TTC determined they could not deliver the track replacement at that time.

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