Construction & Transit Updates Impacting Toronto-Danforth
Last updated on September 23rd, 2024
You can find updates on the various construction projects taking place in Ward 14 below.
My weekly e-newsletter contains the latest updates on these projects and more. Subscribe to get the latest updates delivered right to your inbox.
Working for you,
Paula
On this page:
- Metrolinx Ontario Line Construction Updates
- Transit Updates
- TTC Second Exit/Entrance and Easier Access Projects
- Port Lands Construction
- Eastern & Adelaide Bridge Rehabilitation Work
- Millwood Road Safety Improvements
Metrolinx Ontario Line Construction Updates
Below you will find the latest on Metrolinx construction in Ward 14, broken down by area.
Remember that you can report any issues to Metrolinx 24/7 at 416-202-5100.
Pape North
Soil Stabilization Work on Gertrude Place
Metrolinx was scheduled to begin jet grouting work on Gertrude near Muriel on September 3rd.
Construction will occur Monday to Saturday between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Work will take place over three stages for approximately one year.
Jet grouting is a soil stabilization technique that involves injecting grout deep into the soil. The grout mixes with the soil and hardens, adding stability underneath existing structures near where excavation work will occur.
In addition to construction noise, on-street parking on sections of Muriel and Gertrude will not be available. Parking availability will depend on the stage of work.
Portions of the sidewalk on Gertrude and Muriel will also be closed.
Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more details.
24-hour Underground Construction by Pape Station
Metrolinx began construction on underground concrete support walls for the future Ontario Line interchange at Pape Station on July 12th.
Construction will occur on a 24-hour basis between Monday and Friday and on Saturdays between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. This work is expected to last until spring 2025.
To complete this work safely, the north sidewalk on Danforth between Pape and Eaton is closed. A temporary crosswalk at Eaton will be installed to allow pedestrians to safely cross the Danforth.
Other impacts include short-term traffic interruptions and construction noise. Read Metrolinx's construction notice to learn more.
24-hour Cosburn & Gowan Sewer Work
Metrolinx has begun work to relocate the existing sewer under Pape to the laneway west of Pape (connecting Gowan and Cosburn) and south of Cosburn.
This is to support the construction of the future Ontario Line station at Pape and Cosburn.
Construction will take place 24/7 Mondays to Friday for approximately three months.
This project involves five primary construction phases, with the Phases 1 & 2 expected to last for two months.
The work will result in traffic, pedestrian and noise impacts in the Pape-Gowan-Cosburn area. Scroll down for details.
Phase 1
In Phase 1 crews will replace sewer infrastructure on Gowan and connect it to the existing sewer on Pape. This phase is divided into 1A and 1B. Impacts are as follows:
Phase 1A:
- Gowan closed from Pape to the laneway
- south end of laneway near Gowan closed
- north sidewalk on Gowan closed between Pape and the laneway
- centre lane on Pape at Gowan closed
- vehicles travelling westbound on Gowan east of Pape will be unable to turn left to head southbound on Pape or continue straight on Gowan west of Pape
- vehicles travelling north or south on Pape will be unable to access Gowan west of Pape
One lane in each direction will be maintained on Pape. The laneway will also remain accessible from Cosburn. View the Phase 1A closure map.
Phase 1B:
- Gowan will remain closed from Pape to the laneway
- both southbound lanes on Pape by Gowan will be closed
- vehicles will still be able to travel both north and south on Pape via a temporary lane in each direction
- pedestrians on Pape will not be able to cross the west side of the Pape-Gowan intersection
- pedestrians will be directed to cross west of the work zone on Gowan
- south end of laneway near Gowan will remain closed
View the Phase 1B closure map.
Phase 2
The launch shaft for the micro-tunneling machine will be constructed in Phase 2.
Gowan will remain closed from Pape to the laneway. The south end of the laneway will also stay closed.
Pedestrians on Pape will remain unable to cross the west side of the Pape-Gowan intersection and will continue crossing west of the work zone on Gowan.
There are no Pape traffic lane restrictions planned for Phase 2. View the Phase 2 closure map.
Phases 3 to 5
Phases 3 to 5 will each take several days to complete each and result in further traffic and pedestrian impacts.
Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more details.
24 Hour Work at Pape & Sammon
Metrolinx began constructing underground concrete support walls for the future Ontario Line emergency exit at Sammon on June 25th, 2024.
This phase entails continuous, 24-hour construction Monday to Friday and Saturdays between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Current traffic, parking and pedestrian restrictions will remain in effect in the Pape & Sammon area. These include:
Traffic
- Northbound lanes on Pape Ave. between Selkirk St. and Sammon Ave will be closed to facilitate construction
- Northbound and southbound traffic will be shifted to the west side of Pape, with one traffic lane open in each direction
Parking
- On-street parking will be restricted on the east side of Pape between Selkirk and Aldwych and between Sammon and Kings Park
- On-street parking will be restricted on the west side of Pape between Mortimer and north of Canning
Pedestrian
- The sidewalk on the south side of Sammon between Pape and the laneway east of Pape will be closed
- The pedestrian route adjacent to the site will be rerouted onto Pape. Concrete barriers will separate traffic from the pedestrian walkway
Transit
- The TTC bus stops on Pape at Sammon and Fulton will be relocated
This work is expected to last until spring 2025. Read Metrolinx's updated construction notice for more details.
Pape Station Construction: Bus Loop Fully Closed
To facilitate major Ontario Line construction at Pape Station, Metrolinx is undertaking bus loop canopy demolition, modifications within the station building, utility relocations within the bus loop and demolition of the existing tunnel ventilation shaft.
The Pape Station bus terminal is now fully closed for the duration of this work. This has resulted in several temporary service changes to Pape and Broadview Station bus routes. Jump to Transit Updates for more details.
Construction will take place from Monday to Saturday between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. TTC customers and nearby residents can expect construction noise.
This work is expected to continue until fall 2024. Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more details.
Getting Ontario Line Construction Right at Pape and Danforth
Following the province's July 2024 groundbreaking ceremony for the future Ontario Line Pape Station, residents and small businesses reiterated their call for better construction management and more affordable housing.
Read my news release to learn more.
Pape North & Don Valley Ontario Line Construction Meeting: Recording & Slides
View the recording and presentation slides from the April 2024 meeting me and TDSB Trustee Sara Ehrhardt hosted on construction impacts to the Pape & Cosburn and Pape & O'Connor areas and the Don Valley.
Pape-Danforth & Pape-Sammon Ontario Line Construction Meeting: Recording & Slides
View the recording and presentation slides from the March 2024 meeting me and TDSB Trustee Sara Ehrhardt hosted on construction impacts to the Pape-Danforth and Pape-Sammon areas.
Pape South
Pape/Riverdale/Carlaw Pole Removal & Electrical Cable Pulling
Starting as early as Monday, September 23rd, Metrolinx's contractor will be removing two decommissioned hydro poles and pulling cables through two new underground hydro vaults at the northwest corner of Pape and Riverdale as well as the south end of Pape in front of the driveway to 449 Carlaw.
The Hydro pole removal will take approximately one day, while cable pulling will take up to six weeks.
Minor road occupancies will be in place and the driveway into 449 Carlaw will be closed, restricting access to the plaza. Work will involve the use of a bucket truck, cube van, mini dump truck, telehandler for pole removal, hydrovac, and pickup truck.
Residents and businesses in the area may hear noise caused by work equipment. Crews will take measures to minimize noise impacts wherever possible. Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more details.
Pape & Riverdale Ontario Line Construction Meeting: Recording & Slides
View the recording and presentation slides of the February 2024 meeting TDSB Trustee Sara Ehrhardt and I hosted on construction impacts to the Pape-Riverdale area, including Pape School.
Lakeshore East Rail Corridor
Weekly Overnight Rail Corridor Work Update: Sept 15th - 29th
Metrolinx is conducting overnight Ontario Line construction in the rail corridor that can't be conducted during the day safely when trains are operating.
This phase of overnight rail corridor work began on Sunday, September 15th. This work includes retaining wall construction (see below), utility installations and more along the rail corridor.
Overnight rail corridor work hours are Sunday to Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
This phase is expected to finish by Sunday, September 29th. Additional phases of overnight work will follow.
Read Metrolinx's updated construction notice for more details.
Retaining Wall Construction: Overnight Work
Retaining wall construction on the east side of the rail corridor between Eastern and Dundas is underway.
Retaining wall construction will take place day and night intermittently. Noise barrier installation will begin as each section of retaining wall is completed.
Work will take place during the day Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Overnight work was scheduled to begin August 12th and will take place Sunday to Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Construction noise should be expected, though Metrolinx will implement noise mitigation measures and louder work will take place during the day. No traffic or pedestrian impacts are anticipated.
Work began May 21st and is expected to take approximately six months to complete.
Read Metrolinx's updated construction notice for more details.
Logan Avenue Bridge
Southbound Traffic Closure at the Logan Avenue Bridge
Starting as early as Thursday, September 5th, southbound traffic on Logan will be closed between First and Dundas for approximately six to eight weeks.
Work will take place Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and periodically overnight.
Only northbound traffic will be permitted on Logan between Dundas and First. The sidewalk on the east side of Logan will remain open. The sidewalk on the west side of Logan will be closed under the bridge between 400 Logan and 444 Logan. Access to 444 Logan (Ray McCleary Towers) will be maintained.
Noise and vibration from construction equipment including drill rigs, concrete trucks, cranes, loaders and other heavy machinery can be expected. Metrolinx will implement noise mitigation measures, including noise barriers and coverings, as required.
Metrolinx expects these traffic and sidewalk closures will accelerate work and shorten the length of bridge construction by 10 weeks. Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more details.
Overnight Bridge Work
Starting August 2024, periodic overnight work will take place at the Queen, Dundas, and Logan rail bridges.
Construction will take place Sundays to Fridays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until fall 2024. Work will be periodic and not occur in the same location every night.
Construction noise should be expected. However, Metrolinx has committed to implementing noise mitigation measures, including temporary noise barriers and noise reducing attachments as needed. Less disruptive work will also be scheduled overnight to mitigate noise disturbances.
Traffic lane, bike lane and pedestrian closures are in place and will be maintained complete this work safely. Read Metrolinx's construction notice to learn more.
Abutment Construction
Abutment construction on the Logan Avenue Bridge is underway.
Work will take place from Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and periodically on Saturdays. Construction crews may be required to work periodically between 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. to complete critical work. This work will take approximately three months to complete.
Work was initially scheduled to start July 15th, but was rescheduled first to July 25th before beginning on July 29th.
In order for this work to be completed, alternating sidewalk closures on will be required, though at least one sidewalk will remain open at all times.
Pedestrians are encouraged to cross at designated crosswalks only and follow construction signage posted in the area. Cyclists will need to share the road with vehicles while travelling through this area.
Traffic may be stopped for short durations during lifting operations or to facilitate the safe entry/egress of construction equipment. One traffic lane in each direction will be maintained on Logan Avenue.
Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more details (note the start date still reads July 15th).
Queen Street East Bridge
Queen Street Road Closure Weekend of Sept 28th & 29th for New Bridge Installation
Starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, September 27th until 5 a.m. on Monday, September 30th, a portion of Queen will be closed to traffic and pedestrians to allow for the installation of a new rail bridge deck.
Overnight work will be required to complete the bridge girder installation, with more disruptive work taking place during the day.
No traffic or pedestrian access will be permitted beneath the Queen Street bridge between McGee and De Grassi during the road closure times listed above.
Access for residents and businesses (local traffic) will be maintained between Broadview and Logan. Only local traffic will be permitted on Empire. Traffic will be diverted both ways via Logan, Eastern, Broadview and Carlaw.
501/301 Queen and 503/303 Kingston Road streetcars will divert both ways, via Broadview, Gerrard and Coxwell from Thursday, September 26th at 9 p.m. to Wednesday, October 2nd at 4 a.m.
501/301 Queen replacement buses will operate. Read the TTC's service advisory for more details.
Noise from construction equipment including cranes, and hand tools, can be expected. Noise mitigation measures, including temporary noise barriers and noise reducing equipment, will be implemented as required.
Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more information.
Overnight Bridge Work
Starting August 2024, periodic overnight work will take place at the Queen, Dundas, and Logan rail bridges.
Construction will take place Sundays to Fridays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until fall 2024. Work will be periodic and not occur in the same location every night.
Construction noise should be expected. However, Metrolinx has committed to implementing noise mitigation measures, including temporary noise barriers and noise reducing attachments as needed. Less disruptive work will also be scheduled overnight to mitigate noise disturbances.
Traffic lane, bike lane and pedestrian closures are in place and will be maintained complete this work safely. Read Metrolinx's construction notice to learn more.
Abutment Construction
The old bridge piers and abutments of the Queen Street East Bridge have been demolished and removed.
Construction of the new bridge abutments is ongoing. Construction will take place Monday to Saturday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. and periodically until 11 p.m. to complete critical work.
Westbound and eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane.
Alternating sidewalk closures may be required, though temporary walkways will remain in place to provide pedestrian access around the work zone. One sidewalk will remain open at all times.
Construction noise can also be expected. Read Metrolinx's updated construction notice for more.
Dundas Street East Bridge
Overnight Bridge Work
Starting August 2024, periodic overnight work will take place at the Queen, Dundas, and Logan rail bridges.
Construction will take place Sundays to Fridays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. until fall 2024. Work will be periodic and not occur in the same location every night.
Construction noise should be expected. However, Metrolinx has committed to implementing noise mitigation measures, including temporary noise barriers and noise reducing attachments as needed. Less disruptive work will also be scheduled overnight to mitigate noise disturbances.
Traffic lane, bike lane and pedestrian closures are in place and will be maintained complete this work safely. Read Metrolinx's construction notice to learn more.
Abutment Construction
Abutment demolition work is scheduled to begin on the Dundas Avenue Bridge this Monday, May 27th. This follows demolition work, which will soon be completed.
Work will take place periodically from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and periodically on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for approximately three months.
Starting June 3rd, construction crews may be required to work periodically between 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to complete critical work.
Sidewalk closures under the bridge are required, though one sidewalk will remain open at all times. Sidewalk closures will alternate depending on where work is occurring and crews will reopen sidewalks at the end of workday when possible.
Cyclists will need to share the road with vehicles while travelling through this area. Traffic may be stopped for short durations during lifting operations or to facilitate the safe entry/exit of construction equipment from work zones.
The eastbound traffic lane will shift slightly north and one traffic lane in each direction will be maintained on Dundas and Logan.
Construction-related noise can also be expected. Read Metrolinx's updated construction notice for more details.
Eastern Avenue Rail Bridge/East Harbour Transit Hub
Bridge Reconstruction - Long Term Lane Closures in Effect
Reconstruction of the Eastern Avenue Bridge is underway as part of the East Harbour Transit Hub project.
Traffic on Eastern between Dibble and Lewis is reduced to a single lane in each direction until 2026.
Sidewalks on either side will remain open. Read the construction notice for more details.
Don Valley
Tree Removal Work in DVP/Minton Place Area
Metrolinx was scheduled to begin removing trees as early as this Tuesday, September 3rd in the Minton Place/Don Valley Parkway (DVP) area.
Work will take place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for approximately three months. There will also be two weeks of overnight work required.
Noise and other construction impacts can be expected. There will be overnight DVP lane closures during the two weeks of overnight work.
Read Metrolinx's construction notice to learn more.
Construction of Lower Don Bridge East Abutment
Construction of the east abutment for the new Lower Don bridge is underway.
Work is taking place north of the existing rail bridge and east of the Don Valley Parkway. Read Metrolinx's construction notice for more details.
These dates may change. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for the latest updates on Ontario Line construction.
Transit Updates
TTC Service Increases
The TTC is increasing service and revising schedules on its bus, subway, and streetcar networks, starting September 1st.
When fully implemented this fall, the bus network, which has seen sustained and increasing ridership levels, will have more service hours than were in place pre-pandemic. Across the system, service hours will increase to 97 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with ridership at approximately 80-85 percent compared to 2019.
Read the TTC's news release or visit their website to learn more.
Overnight Streetcar Service: New 305 Dundas Route & 306 Carlton Changes
The TTC has introduced the 305 Dundas, a new overnight route is operating daily between Dundas West Station and Broadview Station between approximately 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
As a result of this change, 306 Carlton overnight streetcar service is now travelling to High Park Loop.
Please note the 305 Dundas streetcars is picking up and dropping off customers on Broadview and Danforth and will not service Broadview Station.
It is also picking up and dropping off customers on Dundas Street West and Bloor, and will not service Dundas West Station.
Read the TTC's service update for more details.
Route Diversion: 202 Cherry Beach
The TTC's seasonal 202 Cherry Beach bus, which operates from early May to early October, is continuing to divert due to continued emergency work on the Ship Channel Bridge.
The 202 is diverting both ways via south on Cherry, east on Commissioners, north on Carlaw, west on Lake Shore and north on Cherry to regular routing. View this route diversion map for details.
Jump to Port Lands Construction to learn more about Ship Channel Bridge repairs.
508 Lake Shore Now Servicing Broadview Station During Rush Hours
The 508 Lake Shore streetcar is now servicing Broadview Station weekdays during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Learn more.
Pape Bus Service Changes for Ontario Line Construction
The Pape Station bus terminal is fully closed to accommodate Ontario Line construction at Pape Station.
As a result, temporary diversions and service changes for several bus routes serving Pape and Broadview Stations are in effect until fall 2024. These are as follows:
Pape Station Bus Routes & Wheel-Trans Changes
- The 25 Don Mills and 925 Express are diverting to Broadview Station via O'Connor and Broadview
- The 81 Thorncliffe Park is suspended and has been replaced by the extended 72A/72C Pape Bus
- Wheel-Trans buses are stopping on-street in front of Pape Station
- The 72B is suspended. The new 114 Queens Quay East route has replaced 72B service between Union and Commissioners only
The 72A/72C is the only bus routes serving Pape Station from May to fall 2024.
There is no direct bus service from Pape Station to the Port Lands. Those travelling from Pape Station to the Port Lands can transfer from the 72C Pape to the 114 Queens Quay East via the Lake Shore & Carlaw stop.
Access to Pape Station will be maintained, though subway service may be disrupted intermittently to accommodate work in the subway tunnel. Advance notice will be provided.
The TTC has increased 25 Don Mills and 72 Pape service to help mitigate impacts of these changes.
Broadview Station Bus Route Changes
- The 8 Broadview and 62 Mortimer (eastbound & westbound) routes has been extended south to Bridgepoint Hospital. They are now serving Broadview Station via on-street stops
- 100 Flemingdon Park and 87 Cosburn service has not changed. They continue to Broadview Station via the bus terminal, though from different bus bays
- Wheel-Trans continues to serve Broadview Station from Bay 5
Learn more about the 8 Broadview and 62 Mortimer service changes.
These changes are to accommodate the temporary re-routing of the 25 Don Mills and 925 Don Mills Express to Broadview Station. Broadview Station subway service will not be impacted.
Read the TTC's service update for more on all of the above changes.
You can also contact TTC Customer Service at 416-393-4636 or via telecommunications relay service at 1-800-855-0511 for help planning your trip or any other questions about the above changes.
Check back regularly as dates and other details may change. Subscribe to my weekly e-newsletter for the latest updates on TTC service changes impacting Toronto-Danforth.
TTC Second Exit/Entrance and Easier Access Projects
The Donlands Station Second Exit/Entrance & Easier Access and Greenwood Station Easier Access projects are underway to improve accessibility, safety and convenience for TTC customers.
Read more about the TTC’s second exit planning and consultation process.
Donlands Station Easier Access & Secondary Entrance/Exit Project
The long awaited Donlands Station second exit/entrance is now open.
Located on Dewhurst, it will improve safety and convenience for local transit users.
The new elevators at Donlands Station are also expected to fully open in early September 2024.
Learn more about the project on the TTC's website.
Greenwood Station Easier Access Project
The TTC is conducting work at the intersection of Strathmore & Linnsmore to make Greenwood Station accessible.
Construction is expected to finish in mid-2025 once the new elevators are in service.
View the latest Greenwood Station project updates. Learn more about the project here.
Greenwood Station Bus Loop Reopened
The Greenwood Station bus loop re-opened on September 1st, 2024
The 31 Greenwood will continue extending to Coxwell Station to provide an accessible connection for any customers requiring elevators.
Buses to Eastern and Queen will board at Bay 2, while buses to Coxwell Station will board at Bay 1.
Read the TTC's construction notice for more details.
Linnsmore & Strathmore Reopened to Vehicular & Pedestrian Traffic
Construction on the Greenwood Station Easier Access Project progressed to Stage 5 in late July 2024. This has allowed for the reopening of the Strathmore & Linnsmore intersection to vehicles and pedestrians.
Construction will continue underground, on street level around the station building and within the station.
Read the TTC's construction notice for more details.
Greenwood Station Escalator Out of Service until December
The escalator from the street level to the concourse level is out of service to ensure the construction of new elevators is done safely.
Due to third-party delays in the fabrication of stainless steel, the Greenwood Station escalator is now estimated to be back in service by December 2024. The TTC is working to reopen the escalator as soon as possible.
The escalators from the concourse level to the Eastbound and Westbound platforms will remain in service. Please note there is also no elevator currently available at Greenwood Station. However, Coxwell Station remains fully accessible.
Updates will be posted here as construction progresses. See the latest TTC accessibility alerts.
Port Lands Construction
Port of Toronto Ship Channel Bridge Rehabilitation Project
PortsToronto in partnership with the City of Toronto are conducting rehabilitation works to modernize the ageing Ship Channel Lift Bridge on Cherry Street.
The bridge was closed to all traffic after sustaining hardware damage in April 2024 that forced it to remain in an upright position. However, pedestrians and vehicles will be able to periodically use the bridge while emergency repairs are completed (details below).
Drivers can access Cherry Beach via Unwin Avenue when the bridge is in an upright position. Pedestrians and cyclists can use the multi-use trail along Unwin to access Cherry. The bridge is now expected to return to full operation in October.
The Ship Channel Bridge Rehabilitation Project began in March 2022 and is expected to finish in 2027.
Most of the remaining rehabilitation work is intentionally scheduled for the winter when the bridge lift is not operational to allow vehicles and pedestrians to cross. Learn more about the project.
September 20th Update
Bridge Closed Until September 25th
The Ship Channel Bridge is closed to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
PortsToronto expects the bridge to be closed for five days and is expected to reopen on September 25th.
Please check for updates on PortsToronto's website and Twitter for the latest information as the timing may change.
Repair work is expected to be fully finished on October 23rd. View the revised repair schedule. Read PortsToronto's latest update for more.
Jump to Transit Updates for more on the 202 Cherry Beach bus diversion.
I will also share updates in my weekly e-newsletter.
Port Lands Flood Protection Project
Work on the Port Lands Flood Protection Project (PLFPP) is underway. This historic $1.25 billion project will provide critical flood protection and transform our waterfront, resulting in a new piece of Toronto in the Port Lands.
The naturalization of the mouth of the Don River is a key part of this work, fulfilling a long awaited dream of many east-enders for a new river course into the Inner Harbour of Lake Ontario.
The PLFPP will result in the creation of a new river valley, approximately 100 acres of parkland and the future "Villiers Island", the east end's future waterfront community in the Port Lands.
Scroll down for project updates and details on temporary and permanent traffic, pedestrian and cycling changes resulting from this work.
July 2024: "West Plug" Removal Complete
We celebrated a big milestone in the historic transformation of the Port Lands in July 2024.
The "west plug" was removed, a key step in reconnecting the lake and renaturalized river.
I'm so proud to see our new waterfront come to life after helping push this project forward from the get-go.
Thank you to Waterfront Toronto, City Planning staff, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and all those making the historic Port Lands Flood Protection Project a reality.
Read Waterfront Toronto's update update to learn more.
New Bridges and Roads Opened
The Cherry Street North and Commissioners Street bridges along with the newly realigned Cherry and Commissioners Streets opened in late January 2024.
In addition, the gradual flooding of the new Don River began in early February 2024.
These are important milestones in the historic Port Lands Flood Protection Project, which you can read more about here.
New Bridges
The Cherry Street North and Commissioners Street bridges are part of a series of new bridges needed to connect the future "Villiers Island" and other areas in the transformed Port Lands to each other and the rest of the city.
Commissioners Street Bridge
The Commissioners Street Bridge spans the new river valley west of Don Roadway and connects the new Villiers Island to the rest of the Port Lands.
Cherry Street North Bridge
The Cherry Street North Bridge crosses the Keating Channel, connecting pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to New Cherry Street from Lake Shore.
It replaces the existing bridge, which will be removed.
New Road Alignments
New Cherry Street and the realigned Commissioners Street are now open. Some portions of existing Cherry Street and Villiers Street will be closed.
New Cherry Street
The new alignment of Cherry, called 'New Cherry Street' for now, creates a simpler crossing of Lake Shore. It also has a fully separated multi-use trail and sidewalk.
- New Cherry Street is now open between Lake Shore and Commissioners.
- The old alignment of Cherry between Villiers and Commissioners remains open. It continues to be called 'Cherry Street' for now.
- The old alignment of Cherry between Lake Shore and Villiers is permanently closed.
- Traffic signals at Lake Shore and the old alignment of Cherry have been turned off.
This map outlines the above changes to Cherry.
Lake Shore is restricted to two lanes eastbound and one lane westbound between Don Roadway and Cherry. Don Roadway south of Lake Shore remains closed.
Commissioners Street
Commissioners has been rebuilt between Cherry and Saulter with new bike lanes on either side and the just-opened bridge over the new river valley.
- Commissioners has reopened between Cherry and Saulter, connecting to the new extension of Commissioners west of Cherry and the existing roadway east of Saulter.
- Villiers is closed east of Munition Street.
Access to businesses in the all the above areas will be maintained.
This map shows the status of all roads in the Port Lands as of January 24th, including New Cherry Street and the reconfigured Commissioners Street.
Read the construction notice for more details.
Getting Around the Port Lands
Driving
Vehicles heading to the Port Lands via New Cherry Street:
- To access New Cherry Street from the east, go south on Carlaw and turn right onto Commissioners.
- Traffic traveling north/south and from the west can access New Cherry Street at Lake Shore
Cycling and Walking
The multi-use Martin Goodman Trail now runs along New Cherry Street south of Lake Shore and continues past Commissioners.
This is now the new north-south cycling and pedestrian route through the Port Lands.
Commissioners will replace Villiers Street as cyclists' and pedestrians' main east-west connection through the Port Lands and across the Don River.
Read the construction notice or view this map of available cycling routes for more details.
Transit
TTC bus service began operating along the realigned Cherry Street and Commissioners Street in January 2024.
Jump to Transit Updates or check current TTC service advisories for current detours and other service changes in the Port Lands.
Read the construction notice or visit Waterfront Toronto's website for more details.
Visit Waterfront Toronto's website for more on:
Lake Shore Boulevard East Project
Waterfront Toronto's Lake Shore Boulevard East Project is supporting the Port Lands Flood Protection and Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard Reconfiguration projects.
View the latest construction updates here.
Subscribe to my weekly e-newsletter for the latest updates on the exciting and historic project in the Port Lands.
Eastern & Adelaide Bridge Rehabilitation Work
The city has begun long-term rehabilitation work on the Eastern Avenue Bridge, Richmond Street East over the King Street East Bridge, Adelaide Street East over the King Street East Bridge and the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) southbound Richmond Street off-ramp.
In addition to state-of-good-repair work, a multi-use trail on the Eastern Avenue Bridge will also be built.
Work began this month and is anticipated to finish in early 2027.
Work will occur seven days a week (including holidays) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Some tasks will also require overnight work, though this will be communicated in advance and noise mitigation measures implemented.
Construction will be carried out in multiple phases and result in various impacts. Scroll down for details.
Traffic & Pedestrian Impacts
Lane/Road Restrictions & Closures
Initial construction will entail vehicle lane restrictions for eastbound lanes on Adelaide and Eastern from August 2024 until December 2024.
There will be periodic traffic restrictions on the DVP and nearby streets throughout the project. However, these disruptions will not all occur at the same time and all impacted roads will continue to stay open to traffic.
Eastern & Adelaide Lane Closures Until December
One eastbound lane on both Eastern and Adelaide between Bayview and Sumach is now closed until December 2024.
DVP off-ramp to Richmond Street
The southbound DVP off-ramp to Richmond Street will be fully closed for approximately five months as part of this work. However, the closure is scheduled for the later half of the project to minimize disruptions from other nearby construction projects.
Cyclists
This work will impact cycling routes on Bayview Avenue and Lower River Street. The multi-use trail on Bayview Avenue will remain open throughout the work but will be narrowed in the vicinity of the bridges to accommodate construction.
The Lower Don River Trail is currently closed due to the Lower Don River Trail Improvements Project. Bridge work has been planned to minimize impacts to the trail once opened.
Pedestrians
Localized sidewalk detours within the construction zone will be required to ensure work is completed safely.
Transit
TTC service will continue to operate normally. Streetcar routes on King Street and Sumach Street will not be impacted.
Reducing Impacts Through Better Construction Management
With major projects happening in Toronto-Danforth and across the city, we must be thoughtful and coordinated in managing construction to ensure we minimize impacts on residents and local businesses wherever possible.
Given these bridges and elevated roadways are a critical link to downtown and beyond for many Ward 14 residents, I have worked to ensure:
- city staff explore all options to accelerate the completion of this project
- coordination with the Gerrard/Dundas/Riverdale Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation project so only eastbound Adelaide and Eastern lanes are closed this year instead of also closing westbound lanes on Eastern and Gerrard as was initially planned. This avoids concurrent closures in the same direction on these parallel streets
- work is coordinated to avoid impacts to the Lower Don Trail once the Lower Don River Trail Improvements Project is complete
- ensure staff coordinate with Metrolinx who are conducting Ontario Line-related construction on the Eastern Avenue Rail Bridge
Read the city's initial construction notice or visit the project webpage to learn more. You can also subscribe for project updates from the city here.
I will also share regular updates on this project in my weekly e-newsletter.
Millwood Road Safety Improvements
The city has begun road improvements on the Leaside Bridge (Millwood) along both Pape and Donlands between O'Connor and the Leaside Bridge. This includes:
- New separated cycle tracks on Millwood (Leaside Bridge) south of Overlea
- New intersection design at Pape and Donlands including new pedestrian crossings, new/upgraded bikeways, wider sidewalks and relocated bus stops
- Changes to the design of several intersections along Pape
- Road resurfacing on Pape from O’Connor to south of Hopedale
There will be lane reductions and other traffic impacts, including occasional weekend closures of the Millwood & Pape/Donlands intersection (by the south end of the Leaside Bridge).
Work is expected to finish by December 2024.
Sign-up to receive project email updates from the city here. Visit the project website to learn more.
