Downtown Torontonians could be in for a noisy year after the Ford government pledged $73 million to speed up construction on the Gardiner Expressway — provided crews can work 24/7.
The funding announced on Wednesday means the project could finish in April 2026 — right before Toronto hosts the FIFA World Cup — a year ahead of the originally anticipated April 2027 completion date.
Construction on the aging highway started in March and has seriously affected travel times. Crews are currently demolishing and rebuilding a 700-metre stretch between Dufferin Street and Strachan Avenue. This phase of work — which cost the city about $300 million — is part of a larger, multi-billion-dollar project to rehabilitate the 60-year-old highway.
One study found commute times have increased by as much as 250 per cent in the morning and 230 per cent in the afternoon due to lane closures. Nearly 150,000 cars drive the Gardiner on an average weekday.
"The practical solutions we are implementing to speed up construction, like 24-7 work, will provide major economic benefits to Ontario and make life easier and more convenient for drivers from across the province, and in the local community," Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said.
"We are doing this by adding additional crews of workers, extending the working hours, buying more equipment that help us speed up the demolition, but also address the technical issues by curing the concrete in the winter time, of faster production of the girders and the rebars, changing the design of some of the girders to speed up their installation and so much more," Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said.
New funding is contingent on crews working around the clock.
On Wednesday, City of Toronto staff released a report outlining how the work could be sped up, including how 24-7 construction would work.
"Adding additional crews and shifts of workers, including overnight work, can provide project acceleration during several phases of the work," the report said.
True 24-7 construction, however, is "typically only feasible during short-term intensive operations," the report said.
The report was informed by consultations with industry experts, and recommends two 10-hour-long shifts, six days a week to "allow for efficient crew changes, worker safety and site preparation."
A seventh day could be added to "make up for lost time due to inclement weather" or "to ensure critical path activities are on track to meet accelerated milestone targets," according to the report.
City staff are set to report back to council on whether the April 2026 completion date can be met on Aug. 15, 2025.
While the province is kicking in $73 million, the exact cost of the accelerated timeline isn't public. The staff report has a confidential portion because the city is still negotiating terms with the existing contractor.
While the Gardiner has long been a massive drain on Toronto's coffers, it will soon be the province's responsibility.
As part of the November 2023 deal between the city and province, Premier Doug Ford agreed to upload the highway (and much more) in exchange for Chow backing down in the fight against the Tories' plans to redevelop Ontario Place. The two parties are currently in the due diligence process of completing the agreement, which is expected to finish by the end of the year.
