Finally, some good news for Toronto commuters.
A very problematic section of the Gardiner Expressway – prone to bump-to-bumper traffic – is set to reopen 18 months sooner than scheduled.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has announced all six lanes of the Gardiner Expressway between Dufferin St. and Strachan Ave. will reopen on Oct. 27.
This plan will be confirmed pending coordination with the potential appearance of the Toronto Blue Jays playoff schedule, as a weekend road closure is required to finalize the roadwork.
“We’re re-opening the Gardiner 18 months faster than the original plan – thanks to the funding I secured and the partnership with the province,” Chow said in a statement.
“We have cut the construction time in half. We are fixing Toronto’s infrastructure so it can serve people safely for decades to come. I want to thank residents for their patience and everyone who worked around the clock to get this done.”
This section of the Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation had an initial completion date of April 2027.
Construction on this section of the Gardiner started in November 2023, with the first lane closures in March 2024, and new accelerated work began in early August 2024.
Subject to change based on the Toronto Blue Jays playoff schedule, there will be a temporary weekend Gardiner Expressway closure from Spadina Ave. to Hwy. 427 on Oct. 24 starting at 11 p.m., with all lanes reopened by 5 a.m. on Oct. 27.
As the City prepares to reopen all six lanes of the Gardiner between Dufferin and Strachan, crews will also carry out essential maintenance to extend the life of the expressway.
