Toronto provides construction update
The City of Toronto has provided an update on the status of several construction projects.
In a release dated September 18, the city reported that it has completed resurfacing work on more than 170 roads. The remainder of the 323 roads planned for resurfacing work is on track to be completed this fall, as is work to complete sewer upgrades on more than 100 streets.
The city says it has worked hard to accelerate as many construction projects as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic—some on accelerated schedules due to lower traffic volumes. It forecasts just as busy a fall season as crews work on other infrastructure assets.
"Despite the challenges we continue to face with COVID-19, I am proud of the work completed this summer on a number of the city's major planned construction projects – some of which were accelerated as we had a rare opportunity to complete work in the city during a period when not many people were travelling on our roads,” said Mayor John Tory. “Thank you to our city staff and contractors for getting this work done and continuing to deliver important infrastructure upgrades during the pandemic.”
Some of the major projects that were completed this summer include:
- Richmond Street West from York Street to Bathurst Street, replaced a 146-year-old watermain
- Don Mills Bridge over the Don Valley Parkway, bridge rehabilitation
- Jarvis Street from Queen Street East to Front Street East, replaced a watermain that has sections that were 143 years old and 161 years old, road resurfacing and laneway reconstruction
- Yonge Street from St. Clair Avenue to Woodlawn Avenue, watermain replacement, road resurfacing and laneway reconstruction
- Church Street at Richmond Street East, replaced a 143-year-old watermain and TTC track requiring a full intersection closure
- Martin Grove Road from Finch Avenue West to Albion Road, road resurfacing, sidewalk and curb construction
- Willowdale Avenue from Empress Avenue to Finch Avenue West, road reconstruction
- Crescent Town Pedestrian Bridge rehabilitation over Victoria Park Avenue and Danforth Avenue
- Intersection improvements and road resurfacing at Steeles Avenue East at Birchmount Road and at Don Mills Road, new traffic signals and road resurfacing mostly complete except for minor works.
Over the next few weeks, the city has works planned on the following projects:
- King Street West, Queen Street West, Roncesvalles Avenue and the Queensway, intersection reconfiguration, TTC streetcar track replacement, watermain replacement and road improvements including streetscaping, from September 2020 to August 2022
- Church Street from Gloucester Street to Park Road, road resurfacing and TTC track removal, from September 2020 to December 2020
- Gerrard Street West from Elizabeth Street to Yonge Street, road resurfacing from September to December 2020
- Dundas Street West and Howard Park Avenue, full intersection closure for intersection improvements, road and sidewalk construction and TTC track replacement, late September to late October 2020
- Dundas Street West and College Street intersection, TTC streetcar track allowance reconstruction, road reconstruction and resurfacing, curb realignment and intersection improvements, early-October to late-November 2020
- Scott Street Pumping Station improvement work, September 2020 to January 2021
- Continuing construction on the final phase of the Strategic Rehabilitation of the Gardiner Expressway between Jarvis and Cherry Streets, expected to be completed in Spring 2021.
"The city's work to renew our aging infrastructure is critically important to ensure it remains in a state of good repair now and in the future,” said councillor James Pasternak, who chairs the city’s Infrastructure & Environment Committee. “During a normal construction season, the city had a loaded plate of projects planned for 2020 and I'm delighted of the progress made to date on the city's construction portfolio.”