This March, the work started on the Gardiner Expressway, the iconic highway that has been in service for the past 60 years. Though the work has been in progress, the pace of it has raised some questions.
What Does The Mayor Say?
Olivia Chow, the Mayor of Ontario, recently highlighted the need to find a solution to ease the congestion on key artery as soon as possible. On Friday, Chow mentioned that more details about the measures to ease the traffic will be coming soon. She said the work is going on in full swing, and some part of it is taking place around the clock.
Project Details
It’s a $300-million construction project that will include the removal of the elevated structure, the addition of a new traffic system between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue, and the revitalizing structures beneath the highway. In case you didn’t know, this project is part of a bigger multi-billion dollar effort to save the deteriorating structure.
Chow said Friday that more details are coming this week on measures to ease the pain for drivers, and some work is taking place around the clock. In addition, she also stated, “We are asking experts to give us opinions on how we can do it faster and more efficiently.”
Should The Work Take Place 24/7 Including Sundays?
A motion from Coun. Brad Bradford proposes the work should now accelerate and take place 24/7 including Sundays in order to ensure the refurbishment job of the expressway gets finished as soon as possible. Bradford stated, ”This is catastrophic, it’s a nightmare… And I think we need to make sure that the city works for everybody. And if there’s a way that we can consolidate the construction timeline, get it done faster, that has to be a priority.”
In response to Bradford, the head of Toronto’s Infrastructure Committee, Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie said on Friday, the feasibility of pacing up the work will be checked and the staff report can be expected back in July.
