The Ford government is celebrating the progress of its initiative for around-the-clock construction on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, claiming the project is now 15 months ahead of schedule.
Last spring, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria proposed the idea of 24-hour construction to accelerate the rehabilitation of the route that Ontario is in the process of taking over.
This suggestion led to discussions between Queen’s Park and City Hall, with the city indicating that continuous work could already be feasible.
The province eventually offered Toronto $73 million to support the road rehabilitation, provided that it approved 24/7 construction on the Gardiner Expressway.
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According to the Ford government, this 24/7 initiative has significantly accelerated construction, now predicted to be 15 months ahead of the original timeline.
“We’re alleviating traffic congestion by investing in infrastructure and speeding up construction on key highways, allowing for continuous work around the clock,” Sarkaria stated.
When he announced the extra funding for 24/7 work last year, Sarkaria’s office indicated that the completion date could be moved forward by a year, shifting from April 2027 to April 2026.
The province reports that crews have completed rehabilitation on two southern and two central lanes of the Gardiner between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue, and work is set to commence on the northern lanes.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow commended the partnership with Queen’s Park for hastening the project.
“Our collaboration to expedite this vital rehabilitation work is ahead of schedule, resulting in less disruption for our residents, visitors, and businesses,” she stated.
By the end of 2023, Ontario will assume control of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway from the City of Toronto as part of a new agreement between the two governments.
This agreement will see Ontario cover the maintenance costs for both major routes, alongside other funding commitments for subways, housing, and a plan regarding Ontario Place.
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