Ontario to Take Ownership of Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway in Fall 2027

June 4, 2026

Province providing up to $353 million to the City of Toronto for operating and maintenance until transfer is complete

TORONTO — As part of the ongoing implementation of the provincial government’s historic New Deal for Toronto, Ontario will upload ownership and maintenance of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway (DVP) effective fall 2027. This marks a major milestone in the province’s plan to fight gridlock, keep people and goods moving across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and ensure these vital highways remain safe, reliable, toll-free and in good repair.

“Our government is investing $31 billion to build new roads, highways and bridges across the province to get drivers out of gridlock,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Uploading the Gardiner Expressway and DVP is part of our plan to tackle bumper-to-bumper traffic impacting drivers from across Ontario and support municipal investments in public transit, homes and other vital infrastructure residents are relying on. We will never toll these highways, and we will never tear them down.”

To support the transfer of the Gardiner Expressway and DVP to provincial ownership, the government is providing up to $353 million to the City of Toronto to continue operating and maintaining both highways until the transfer is complete. During this transition, the province will help guide capital decisions to align work on both highways with applicable provincial standards.

“The upload of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway is a major milestone in our new deal with the province and demonstrates what can be achieved when governments work together,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “Returning these regional highways to provincial responsibility will reduce the financial burden on Toronto taxpayers and allow the city to focus more of its resources on the roads, transit, bridges and community infrastructure that residents rely on every day.”

Since the New Deal for Toronto was announced in November 2023, the provincial government has provided $431.4 million in financial support for the City of Toronto to support the maintenance and repair of the two highways. This included $73 million to accelerate repairs on the Gardiner Expressway, which led to the completion of repairs more than 18 months ahead of schedule. Accelerating repairs on the Gardiner Expressway saved Ontario’s economy $273 million and is saving the 140,000 drivers who use the highway each day up to 22 minutes per trip.

“Our government is making historic investments in highway infrastructure to fight gridlock and keep people and goods moving across Ontario,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By taking ownership of the Gardiner Expressway and DVP, we are keeping these vital highways toll-free for the long term and helping the more than 140,000 drivers who rely on the Gardiner every day get where they need to go safely and reliably.”

The Gardiner Expressway and DVP are nationally significant economic corridors, facilitating domestic and international trade, boosting GDP and supporting millions of visitors to Toronto annually.

Quick Facts

In November 2023, the Government of Ontario and City of Toronto established a new deal to help achieve long-term financial stability and sustainability for the city and to deliver on shared priorities like building homes, public transit and infrastructure.
Ontario is investing nearly $70 billion in the largest transit expansion in North America, including the Ontario Line, Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
Ontario is investing $31 billion to build, repair and expand highways, roads and bridges across the province.