Workers who commute into downtown Toronto by car via the Gardiner Expressway have a sliver of hope on their gridlocked horizon — the Ontario government is giving the city up to $73 million to fund around-the-clock construction.
That is expected to advance the completion date from April 2027 to at least April 2026, according to the province.
“Our government is helping get the 140,000 drivers from Toronto, Peel, Halton, York, Hamilton, and across Ontario who use the Gardiner Expressway each day out of gridlock and where they need to go faster,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “The practical solutions we are implementing to speed up construction, like 24/7 work, will provide major economic benefits to Ontario and make life easier and more convenient for drivers from across the province, and in the local community.”
The investment will enable contractors to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, utilizing multiple shifts per day. Additional traffic flow improvements will include modifying the Jameson to westbound Gardiner on-ramp, opening a left-turn lane at Spadina Avenue from Lake Shore East Boulevard, and relaxing noise restrictions and overnight lane closures.
“Together with the provincial government, we can rebuild the Gardiner Expressway more quickly and ease the painful congestion in downtown Toronto,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “Working together, we can repair our aging infrastructure, ensure that the Gardiner Expressway is safe, and help people get around our city easier.”
The current phase of construction involves the demolition and rebuilding of 700 metres of elevated roadway from Dufferin Street to Strachan Avenue, including the rehabilitation of supporting structures and the addition of a new traffic management system and streetlights.
The Gardiner Expressway, one of Canada’s busiest corridors, sees more than 140,000 vehicles on an average weekday. Recent studies have shown that travel times on the expressway have increased by up to 250 per cent in the morning rush hour and 230 per cent in the afternoon. A survey by the Toronto Region Board of Trade found that 73 per cent of respondents support 24-hour road construction, and 74 per cent support 24-hour public transit construction.
Upon completion, the construction is expected to save drivers an average of up to 22 minutes per trip, facilitating quicker access to events such as the FIFA World Cup.
Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the economic benefits, stating, “Toronto’s congestion costs Ontario’s economy dearly, and that’s why the Ontario Chamber welcomes today’s announcement to accelerate construction of the Gardiner, alongside recent transit investments that will help move more people faster while taking cars off our roads. As the GTHA’s population grows, so must our economy – and that requires both long-term investment in infrastructure, and long-term partnerships between all governments and all stakeholders.”
In November 2023, the Ontario government and the City of Toronto reached a new financial agreement to ensure Toronto’s long-term stability, including up to $1.2 billion in provincial operating supports over three years and the transfer of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the province, pending third-party due diligence.