Phase II of Gardiner Expressway Construction Set to Begin Ahead of Schedule

Provincial investment will see full project finish one year earlier than planned

TORONTO —The Ontario government is marking the start of the second phase of construction on the Gardiner Expressway four months ahead of schedule. The early milestone is the result of the government’s $73 million investment in the project on the condition that construction work may be allowed to proceed 24/7.

“We’re making real progress on our government’s plan to fight gridlock and keep drivers moving,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we’re not only getting it done on the Gardiner Expressway, we’re also bringing common sense changes to bike lanes through new legislation and speeding up construction of priority highway projects like Highway 413, Bradford Bypass and the Garden City Skway bridge, to help get drivers across the province out of gridlock.”

With two eastbound lanes on the Gardiner Expressway now rehabilitated and reopened, crews will begin the demolition and reconstruction of two centre lanes, before completing work on the remaining two westbound lanes. The full project is expected to be finished one year ahead of schedule and includes revitalizing 700 metres of elevated roadway from Dufferin Street to Strachan Avenue, reinforcing support structures, installing new streetlights and upgrading the traffic management system.

Once construction is complete, the 140,000 drivers who rely on the Gardiner every day will save up to 22 minutes per trip. Accelerating construction is expected to save Ontario’s economy $273 million by getting drivers and goods out of gridlock earlier than originally planned.

Quick Facts

A recent study by Geotab ITS found that travel times on the Gardiner Expressway have increased up to 250 per cent in the morning rush hour and 230 per cent in the afternoon rush hour.
In November 2023, the Ontario government and the City of Toronto reached a New Deal to help ensure Toronto’s long-term financial stability, including up to $1.2 billion in provincial operating supports over three years and significant capital relief, including uploading the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the province, subject to third-party due diligence.
Toronto commuters face the longest travel times in North America, spending an average of 98 hours each year in rush-hour traffic, according to the Toronto Region Board of Trade.
If passed, the Building Highways Faster Act would designate Highway 413, Bradford Bypass and Garden City Skyway bridge as priority projects to speed up construction and help get these highways built faster.