Toronto Lower Don Lands Redevelopment | ?m | ?s | Waterfront Toronto

[rbt]

If I'm not mistaken the Ontario government not the city of Toronto is now in charge of the finances/building of both the DVP and the Gardiner Express Way.

Right. MTO is responsible for financing, design, and tendering future construction phases, snow clearing, and other maintenance. The city is responsible for closing out existing contracts (with a financial contribution from the province), after which the city will not be part of the process any more than they are with highway 401 activities [zoning, permits, sewer hookups, traffic law enforcement, fire, ambulance, etc.]

 

[innsertnamehere]

So in other words we will also be losing this connection because the city is too inept to build the new section first and tear down the existing highway only after the new section has been built. Ugh

No matter how you stage it you would need a gap of some sort to make connections to the new ramps.

Hopefully with MTO in the driver seat now it won't be an overly long closure - from what I recall the city's plan was to close the Gardiner > DVP connection for 2-3 years to demolish and replace.

 

[Northern Light]

If I'm not mistaken the Ontario government not the city of Toronto is now in charge of the finances/building of both the DVP and the Gardiner Express Way.

Right. MTO is responsible for financing, design, and tendering future construction phases, snow clearing, and other maintenance. The city is responsible for closing out existing contracts (with a financial contribution from the province), after which the city will not be part of the process any more than they are with highway 401 activities [zoning, permits, sewer hookups, traffic law enforcement, fire, ambulance, etc.]

That's the theory, and MTO certainly are providing cash and have final say on many things. But as of today, the Gardiner remains a City asset, and the staff directly overseeing it remain City staff.

I just verified the above, and was told the City is answerable to the MTO on the Gardiner file (who pay the bills) but are still unclear what the long the long term arrangement will be. It's still not clear if the City will oversee day to day operations and maintenance or if that will go to the MTO.

 

[416InTrouble]

No matter how you stage it you would need a gap of some sort to make connections to the new ramps.

Hopefully with MTO in the driver seat now it won't be an overly long closure - from what I recall the city's plan was to close the Gardiner > DVP connection for 2-3 years to demolish and replace.

Yes but there’s a difference between what could be a few months gap versus what will likely be a few years. Unfortunately we still operate like it’s still 1955 while spending like it’s 2080.

 

[416InTrouble]

If I'm not mistaken the Ontario government not the city of Toronto is now in charge of the finances/building of both the DVP and the Gardiner Express Way.

Nope not yet. Nothing has been uploaded to MTO yet / likely adding to the already slow pace of accomplishment in this province.

 

[416InTrouble]

That's the theory, and MTO certainly are providing cash and have final say on many things. But as of today, the Gardiner remains a City asset, and the staff directly overseeing it remain City staff.

I just verified the above, and was told the City is answerable to the MTO on the Gardiner file (and pay the bills) but are still unclear what the long the long term arrangement will be. It's still not clear if the City will oversee day to day operations and maintenance or if that will go to the MTO.

#facts.

 

[GameOnBrad]

Guess where I am?

The bridge is now completely open to cars and walkable, though no sidewalks to it yet.

And the cop car found a new spot.

 

[DSCToronto]

Guess where I am?

The bridge is now completely open to cars and walkable, though no sidewalks to it yet.

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Great pics, thanks. I am a bit puzzled about the sidewalk and bike track on north side of Lake Shore @ the Don. Eventually they will clearly link to the Lower Don Trail (which the City may have finished working on by then :->) but where will it go to/from now? Does the sidewalk/path continue further west on west side of the Don or will it, initially, only lead toa crossing of Lake Shore for those using Don Roadway and coming or going north/south to/from Commissioners??

 

[GameOnBrad]

Finishing touches on the souh side of the Don Roadway and the fence east of the Don Roadway is complete. Plus another new wooden fence.

 

[GameOnBrad]

Great pics, thanks. I am a bit puzzled about the sidewalk and bike track on north side of Lake Shore @ the Don. Eventually they will clearly link to the Lower Don Trail (which the City may have finished working on by then :->) but where will it go to/from now? Does the sidewalk/path continue further west on west side of the Don or will it, initially, only lead toa crossing of Lake Shore for those using Don Roadway and coming or going north/south to/from Commissioners??

From what I could see, it looks like they plan to just recreate (realign) the old trail that was there, on the west side, before they closed it off.

 

[DSCToronto]

From what I could see, it looks like they plan to just recreate (realign) the old trail that was there, on the west side, before they closed it off.

The old trail had two 'branches (that met on west side of the Don): one was the Lower Don Trail from the north and that is blocked by the work on the Ontario Line . The other ran further west beside the Harbour Lead Line and the Wilson Yard and linked to Cherry and Parliament on north side of Lake Shore. It would be good to re-open the second of these but a major 'realignment' is needed as its old route is now part of the Debris and Ice Management area north of the new bridge.

 

[GameOnBrad]

Lake Shore Boulevard East

Booth Street northbound turning lane is almost done and the same with Carlaw. Maybe a week to go, depending on how fast they (patckwork) pave.

There is a small median between Booth and Carlaw northbound turning lanes.

 

[GameOnBrad]

They have also started paving the sidewalk? bikelane? on the north side of Lake Shore Boulevard East.

The workers are working on the curb and such at Lake Shore and Don Roadway. They might be waiting for that before moving further west.

 

[myself]

Great pics, thanks. I am a bit puzzled about the sidewalk and bike track on north side of Lake Shore @ the Don. Eventually they will clearly link to the Lower Don Trail (which the City may have finished working on by then :->) but where will it go to/from now? Does the sidewalk/path continue further west on west side of the Don or will it, initially, only lead toa crossing of Lake Shore for those using Don Roadway and coming or going north/south to/from Commissioners??

Spotted this in a report to TEYCC

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-259388.pdf

Agenda Item History 2025.TE26.39

Agenda Item History 2025.TE26.39

secure.toronto.ca

 

[GameOnBrad]

Spotted this in a report to TEYCC

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-259388.pdf

Agenda Item History 2025.TE26.39

Agenda Item History 2025.TE26.39

secure.toronto.ca

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I walked down, where it says the "Proposed Temporary Multi-Use Trail" today, to get to the bridge. Basically, I was walking on the curb most of the way. If they're going to do a trail there, there is going to be quite a bit of work needed. Old fences need to be taken down, mounds of earth need to be removed, leveling terrain, etc.