The ongoing construction on Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway is significantly impacting commuting times and business productivity, according to a recent analysis by Geotab Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).
The Gardiner, a vital route for approximately 140,000 vehicles daily, has seen travel times during peak hours surge by up to 250%.
The Geotab ITS study, which focused on commercial vehicle traffic, highlights several key impacts of the construction project, which began on March 25, 2024. Travel times on the Gardiner have escalated by 250% during the morning rush hour and 230% in the afternoon. Commercial drivers are now spending 80% more time on the road daily compared to pre-construction periods.
The extended travel times are particularly challenging for last-mile delivery companies. With travel from the Humber River to Strachan Avenue increasing from 8 minutes to 20 minutes, and from Jarvis Street to Dufferin Street stretching from 11 minutes to 25 minutes, productivity losses are mounting. The Toronto Region Board of Trade estimates that traffic congestion costs the city over $11 billion annually in lost productivity.
Moreover, the additional driving time is exacerbating fuel consumption and emissions. The study found that emissions have increased by 23%, resulting in an extra 1,200 kilograms of CO2 emitted daily. This increase in emissions is comparable to the carbon footprint of a premium roundtrip flight from Toronto to Vancouver. Commercial vehicle idling time has also risen by 26%.
The construction-induced delays have shifted traffic onto alternative routes, further congesting secondary roads. Harbour Street, Lakeshore Boulevard, and Cherry Street have experienced increased travel times of 72%, 30%, and 27% respectively.
Geotab ITS derived its findings from its Altitude platform, which analyzes data from over 10,000 commercial vehicles to provide insights on fleet and freight movement. These insights aim to help city planners and businesses understand traffic patterns and make informed decisions to improve efficiency and sustainability.
