Ontario Construction News staff writer
Toronto work crews have completed a number of major projects this summer, some on accelerated schedules due to lower traffic volumes, and will begin more work this fall to continue to renew and improve aging water and transportation infrastructure across the city.
Work replacing the 146-year-old water main under Richmond Street wrapped up nine weeks ahead of schedule, while rehabilitation of the Don Mills Bridge over the Don Valley parkway was finished more than a month early.
“Despite the challenges we continue to face with COVID-19, I am proud of the work completed this summer on a number of 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. While there are now more people going out and about as the City continues in its rebuild and recovery phase, I ask for your continued patience on our roads while we continue our work to renew our vital infrastructure.”
Some of the major projects that were completed this summer on-time or ahead of schedule include:
- Richmond Street West from York Street to Bathurst Street, replaced a 146-year-old watermain – completed nearly nine weeks ahead of schedule
- Don Mills Bridge over the Don Valley Parkway, bridge rehabilitation – completed five weeks ahead of schedule
- 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 – completed four weeks ahead of schedule
- Yonge Street from St. Clair Avenue to Woodlawn Avenue, watermain replacement, road resurfacing and laneway reconstruction – completed four weeks ahead of schedule
- Church Street at Richmond Street East, replaced a 143-year-old watermain and TTC track requiring a full intersection closure – completed two weeks ahead of schedule
- 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.
Also, the city has completed road resurfacing work on more than 170 local roads. The remainder of 323 local roads planned for resurfacing work is on-track to be completed this fall. Crews are also on-track to complete sewer upgrades on more than 100 streets to protect basements from flooding.
“Work to renew aging infrastructure is critically important,” said Councillor James Pasternak, chair of the Infrastructure and 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 construction portfolio.”
Over the next few weeks more major construction projects to renew and improve aging infrastructure, including:
- King Street West, Queen Street West, Roncesvalles Avenue and the Queensway, intersection reconfiguration, TTC streetcar track replacement, watermain replacement and road improvements including streetscaping, 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.
Information about the city’s planned capital construction work is available at toronto.ca/inview.