What's going to happen to the Gardiner?

Gardiner Expressway repairs will slow traffic for years There are currently eight projects underway along the 18-kilometre highway: more than $100 million worth of fixes from repairing off-ramps and medians to replacing of 800 metres of actual elevated roadway. These are not scheduled for completion until late 2015. In the meantime, city engineers are working with traffic experts to ease the pain for drivers by staggering lane closures, limiting construction on surrounding roads and modifying traffic signals on streets in the vicinity of the Gardiner in the event of a backup.

The replacement of 800 metres of deck from Strachan Ave. to Spadina Ave., by far the most significant project planned to date, will be carried out in two 400-metre phases. Apart from a break for the Pan-Am Games, traffic will be reduced by one lane in each direction along the busy western stretch from early next year until the end of 2015. Meanwhile, from April to December 2014, three bridges in the western portion of the Gardiner will be refurbished, closing a lane in each direction at those locations. Buckley predicts slowdowns resulting from these projects will persuade many drivers to switch to public transit or stagger their work hours so as to avoid rush-hour. His advice to those with no other option but to brave the Gardiner: “Be patient.” COURTSEY "Toronto star"