Construction season to go ‘as smoothly as possible,’ Tory vows
The weather is beautiful this week in Toronto, a sign that construction season is just around the corner.
Close to $700 million will be spent this year, including $310 million for roads, expressways and bridges, $310 million for sewers and water-mains, and $70 million for basement flooding protection.
About130 kilometres of road will be resurfaced, and 310 km of sewer and water mains will be worked on, plans unveiled Monday show.
The city plans to accelerate construction projects and co-ordinate road closures by extending hours for key projects, implementing signaltiming changes and using better signage at work locations.
“We want construction season to go as smoothly as possible for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” Mayor John Tory said in a statement.
“That’s why I’ve urged staff to speed up construction projects across the city and take other steps aimed at minimizing congestion and disruption.”
Major projects planned this year include:
Demolition of the eastbound ramp from the Gardiner Expressway to York/Bay/Yonge Sts. starting Monday, and building a new ramp at Lower Simcoe St.
Water-main work, TTC streetcar track replacement and road resurfacing on Wellington St. from Church St. to York St.
TTC track replacement, watermain work and road resurfacing on Dundas St. from Yonge St. to Church.
Road resurfacing on Birchmount Rd. from McNicoll Ave. to Steeles Ave. E.
Road resurfacing and water-main work on Don Mills Rd. from north of Lawrence Ave. to Wynford Dr.
Road resurfacing on Burnhamthorpe Rd. from Dundas St. W. to Martin Grove Rd.
Road resurfacing on Lake Shore Blvd. from Leslie St. to Woodbine Ave.
Rehabilitation work for Queensway Bridge over the Humber River.
TTC track work at the intersection of Queen St. and McCaul St.