Toronto updates key construction projects, Bathurst St. bridge closed from May 25 – December 2020

TORONTO, ON., May 13, 2020 — Over the next couple weeks, the City of Toronto will take advantage of f45 to 65 percent fewer cars on the streets and begin construction on a number of key projects to renew and improve aging infrastructure.

A few of the major projects will involve road closures including several projects taking place on Bathurst Street over the coming months which will see the Bathurst Street bridge closed from May 25 to December 20 as well as other interruptions along Bathurst. Another major closure will be the eastbound Gardiner on-ramp at Jarvis Street until 2021 as the ramp will be fully replaced.

The City recently announced that construction is moving forward this year and work will be accelerated on as many important projects as possible. 

Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation – Jarvis Street to Cherry Street, eastbound on-ramp will be fully closed at Jarvis Street until 2021

On Monday, May 18 at 12:01 a.m., the Gardiner Expressway eastbound on-ramp at Jarvis Street will be fully closed for replacement and will reopen once the project is completed in 2021. This construction is the second to last phase of work to rehabilitate the expressway between Jarvis and Cherry Streets and will use an innovated construction technique, accelerated bridge construction, to remove sections of the ramp and replace it with custom built pre-fabricated sections. 

During this construction, drivers should consider using alternate routes such as the eastbound Bay Street on-ramp, Lakeshore Boulevard East or the Don Roadway to the Don Valley Parkway. 

Later this summer, crews will move to the final phase of construction, which will replace the south half of the expressway deck. 

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has continued to provide essential and critical services for Toronto residents and businesses,” said Mayor John Tory. We are doing everything we can as a municipal government to speed up as much road construction as we can right now so that our infrastructure is upgraded and ready for the restart and recovery process. Thank you to our City workers who are getting this work done while still respecting physical distancing requirements from public health officials.”

Bathurst Street from Front Street West to Fort York Boulevard, bridge will be closed from May 25 – December 2020 for TTC track rehabilitation 

From May 25 to the end of December 2020, Bathurst Street from Fort York Boulevard to Front Street West will be fully closed to vehicular and cycling traffic as crews work to rehabilitate the Bathurst Street bridge and replace the TTC streetcar tracks. 

During this time, only one sidewalk will be available for pedestrian access through the work zone and cyclists may dismount to also use the sidewalk. 

Bathurst Street from Front to Queen West watermain repairs from June to December

To minimize disruption and avoid returning to the area in consecutive years, this construction has been bundled together with two other projects on Bathurst Street. Crews will replace a 144-year-old watermain on Bathurst Street from Front Street West to Queen Street West from June to December as well as replace the TTC streetcar tracks between Wolseley Street and Dundas Street West from September to October 2020. 

Church Street at Richmond Street East, watermain TTC track replacement 

Earlier this week, crews began preparatory work at Church Street and Richmond Street East to replace a 143-year-old watermain before beginning work to replace the TTC streetcar tracks. The entire project is anticipated to be completed by the end of June. 

This first phase of work will replace the watermain in the intersection of Church Street and Richmond Street East and the intersection will be reduced to two lanes of traffic and the bike lane will be closed. Cyclists are advised to merge with traffic on Richmond Street East to proceed through the intersection. 

The second phase of work will replace the TTC track and will require the full closure of the Church Street and Richmond Street East intersection from early June until the project is completed at the end of June. During the closure, westbound traffic on Richmond Street East is advised to divert at Sherbourne Street and use Queen Street East or King Street East to travel westbound through Church Street. 

While traffic volumes are lower, these projects will be accelerated by crews working extended hours, the City alleviating restrictions on roads and intersections during peak and off-peak hours, and working with contractors on other potential ways to accelerate work and complete these projects within a fast-tracked schedule. 

During construction, the public are advised to plan their travel in advance, consider alternate routes, obey signage around work zones and be patient while traveling in and around work zones throughout the city. 

Further details about the Gardiner Expressway Strategic Rehabilitation and the work to replace the eastbound Jarvis Street on-ramp is available at toronto.ca/jarvistocherry. 

More information about the downtown Bathurst Street projects and the construction at Church Street and Richmond Street East will be available at toronto.ca/downtownconstructionprojects. 

Individuals are encouraged to use the City’s web-based map, toronto.ca/roadrestrictions, to help plan travel and avoid road closures. 

Information about the City’s planned capital construction work is available at toronto.ca/services-payments/building-construction/infrastructure-city-construction/current-construction-projects. 

SOURCE City of Toronto