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

[GameOnBrad]

Tidying up the median where the rail line was is not a huge project and the area (it is only 300-400 meters long) is a mess 'sandwiched between' the new and, I assume, well done WT work just west of Carlaw and the older and' the 'acceptable' older median landscaping that starts at about the Farm Boy. There are no plans for any sort of light rail on Lake Shore East - though the median would certainly be a possible location for one.

I've never agreed with medians like this. I remember complaining about them from as far back as the age of 12. Basically, it might make the street "look pretty" but it's also not comfortable or usable space for pedestrians or cyclists to use. Like, who wants to be completely surrounded by cars, sitting on a bench, walking, or biking in a median.

This is what their current intent appears to be:

What I wish they would have done is get rid of that median altogether, take the space they intended for the median and move it to the north and south and you could literally increase the tree and bush count by a dramatic amount and give a larger amount of space away from the streetscape.

This is what I was hoping for:

 

[GameOnBrad]

Lake Shore Boulevard Bridge construction site office was removed.

And the east side...

 

[GameOnBrad]

Trees going in on the Don Roadway at Commissioners, all the lights have been tarped at the intersection and the bikelane crossing has been blocked.

Temporary light set up just outside the intersection. Hrmm, are they prepping this intersection to open?

The plants planted here looking like they are almost dead already.

 

[DSCToronto]

More soil going in on the Don Roadway.

View attachment 682819

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And an interesting fence is up on the east side of the roadway. Were they not able to decide what kind of fence they wanted?

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I guess this is the other side of Villiers Street.

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There are rules about fencing below power lines and you need to have wooden fencing there - similar to what you see on Commissioners immediately east of the Don Bridge where the power cables cross Commissioners.

 

[GameOnBrad]

More and more trees, shrubs, and such being planted all along Lake Shore Boulevard East, just east of the new bridge.

These are for the median...

Facing Carlaw from the median...

And then the north side of the boulevard. I love how they are doing a variety or trees, shrubs, etc...

 

[drum118]

Oct 5
Droved west on the Lake Shore and traffic was backup at Carlaw and the DVP. Police still on duty at DVP and one reason for the backup. A new Mobil sign at the bridge with an arrow pointing to the left for westbound traffic snd something new since my last visit.

The centre medium is is built at the DVP and partly to the east with topsoil in place with trees to be planted in it. Some trees are laying in the medium.

West of Carlaw has string in place to pour the westbond curb but not all of it is stake yet.

Np photos

 

[DSCToronto]

Oct 5
Droved west on the Lake Shore and traffic was backup at Carlaw and the DVP. Police still on duty at DVP and one reason for the backup. A new Mobil sign at the bridge with an arrow pointing to the left for westbound traffic snd something new since my last visit.

The centre medium is is built at the DVP and partly to the east with topsoil in place with trees to be planted in it. Some trees are laying in the medium.

West of Carlaw has string in place to pour the westbond curb but not all of it is stake yet.

Np photos

Lots of great photos by @GameOnBrad Just above.

 

[Aplus23]

that centre median is screaming LRT

 

[GameOnBrad]

that centre median is screaming LRT

It's actually a lot narrower in person than it appears in photos. It also tappers inward the closer you get to Carlaw. Here is the reverse shot below, facing the DT Core, of the Carlaw-facing image I took a few posts above.

The Carlaw-facing image also shows the Carlaw (north) turning lane eating up almost the entire median.

 

[GameOnBrad]

BTW they have a lot of plants and shrubs already planted on the south side of Lake Shore Boulevard East as well. Those have been there for awhile. Most seem to be holding their own but there are patches here is there with little growth.

These two shots of the south side was taken awhile ago:

They are also doing touchups here and there along the south side as well. This is right at McCleary Park, right where the public washroom is, across from Booth Street: I took this this past weekend.

 

[GameOnBrad]

Oct 5
Droved west on the Lake Shore and traffic was backup at Carlaw and the DVP. Police still on duty at DVP and one reason for the backup. A new Mobil sign at the bridge with an arrow pointing to the left for westbound traffic snd something new since my last visit.

The centre medium is is built at the DVP and partly to the east with topsoil in place with trees to be planted in it. Some trees are laying in the medium.

West of Carlaw has string in place to pour the westbond curb but not all of it is stake yet.

Np photos

Here is the digital "arrow" @drum118 is talking about. It's animated and slides right to left across the digital display for added effect. Here is a still photo of it...

 

[drum118]

Here is the digital "arrow" @drum118 is talking about. It's animated and slides right to left across the digital display for added effect. Here is a still photo of it...

View attachment 686077

Got to laugh at all these new changes in the last month as why it hasn't happen before these past years. November should be the opening timeframe with the posiblity by the end of the month. The cycling pathway will be in 2026 unless some temporary work done for it this year over the Don. Lot of work in the Carlaw area that will not be done until 2026

Your photo shot the police in the centre as what I saw weeks ago but was in the block off area on the right on Sunday as well in the car.

 

[hawc]

 

[LUVIT!]

Great video thank you. It's quite amazing how much empty land/brown fields are on either side of Lake Shore E. So much opportunity for densification however challenging it may be due to pollution etc. It will be exciting to see what happens here in the future. I hope I live long enough top enjoy lol.

 

[DSCToronto]

Great video thank you. It's quite amazing how much empty land/brown fields are on either side of Lake Shore E. So much opportunity for densification however challenging it may be due to pollution etc. It will be exciting to see what happens here in the future. I hope I live long enough top enjoy lol.

Yes, great video. It shows how much work has been done on Lake Shore from the Don to Carlaw and shows the remnants of the Harbour Spur rail line in the median east of Carlaw. Here they (or PortsTO or ??) have removed most, but not quite all, of the rail but no sign of anyone (presumably the City) tidying up that section of the median. It is only about 300 meters so I hope it will be done (2026). I have asked Councillor Fletcher but no response.