Chris Glover MPP, Spadina–Fort York

ActiveTO Road Closures

• Eastbound lanes of Lake Shore Blvd W will be closed between Windermere Ave and Stadium Rd from 7 am on Saturday, May 28 until 7 pm on Sunday, May 29.

*Updated* Overnight Investigative Drilling Work on Bathurst St near King St W

• Metrolinx resumed work in this area on April 24 and is expected to end on May 26. Work will take place Sunday to Thursday, 9 pm to 5 am. Work began initially on March 14 and was paused due to equipment availability and unforeseen technical challenges. Residents and businesses near the work site can expect to hear noise caused by a drill rig, trucks and other construction equipment related to this work. For more information, email [email protected] or call 416-202-5100.

Market Street Closure

• The St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA (Old Town Toronto), with support of the resident led St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association, in partnership with the St Lawrence Market, working with the City of Toronto, will be closing Market Street, (Front Street to The Esplanade) to open it up to pedestrians from early June to late September 2022. Public furniture, pop-up entertainment and food events are currently being planned to activate the pedestrianized street. We hope you will come enjoy this newly transformed public space! If you have any questions, please contact Stephen-Thomas Maciejowski at 416-410-9242 or [email protected].

Road Safety Upgrades on The Esplanade

• Phase 2 installation of road safety upgrades on The Esplanade from Lower Jarvis St to Lower Sherbourne St has begun as part of the The Esplanade and Mill Street Connection project. Installation started on May 15 and will end on June 15, 2022 (subject to change and weather dependent). The Installation Notice has been mailed to properties along this phase 2 project area. In addition, a Phase 2 Informational Booklet is being mailed to a larger area and provides more background on the project as well as past and future phases.

The City of Toronto is preparing to install road safety upgrades on The Esplanade from Lower Jarvis St to Lower Sherbourne St, which include:

• Two-way cycle tracks (protected bike lanes) on the south side of The Esplanade from Lower Sherbourne St to George St South
• New painted crosswalks at George St South and Frederick St
• Speed limit reduction on The Esplanade from 40km/h to 30km/h
• A new platform for eastbound bus passengers on The Esplanade near Lower Sherbourne St
• Removal of parking, and restriction of loading to only accessible loading in front of 140 The Esplanade
• Traffic changes to reduce non-local traffic infiltration, improve TTC bus service, and reduce conflicts at intersections

Associated changes include:

• Converting George St South between Wilton St and The Esplanade to one-way southbound for vehicles, and installing a northbound contraflow bike lane
• Revising curbside parking and loading signage on Jenoves Pl

Overnight Hydrovac Test Pits at Yonge Street and Queen Street

• Starting May 16, Metrolinx will be using a vacuum truck to gather information and evaluate underground conditions. Residents and businesses near the work site can expect to hear noise
  caused by trucks and other equipment related to this work, including jackhammering needed to break the road. Work will take place overnight from 9 pm to 5 am and is expected to last for two days. For more information, email [email protected] or call 416-202-5100.

Overnight Investigative Hydrovac Work on Adelaide between York and Victoria

• Starting May 18, crews are returning to the site to resume work originally started on May 2. Residents and businesses near the work site can expect to hear noise caused by trucks and other equipment related to this work, including jackhammering needed to break the road. Pylons and barricades will be set up to provide barriers between pedestrians and cyclists, and traffic. Work will take place 9 pm to 5 am and is expected to last two days. For more information, email [email protected] or call 416-202-5100.

Port Lands and Lakeshore East Construction

• From May 9-13, road resurfacing is taking place on Lakeshore Blvd. E., east of Cherry St. and from the west side of the Lakeshore bridge to Saulter St. Work will take place overnight to reduce traffic impact. Crews resurface one lane at a time, with the remaining lanes open for both eastbound and westbound traffic.
  

Overnight Investigative Drilling Work at York/Queen and York/Adelaide

• Starting May 2, residents and businesses near the work site can expect to hear noise caused by a drill rig, trucks and other construction equipment related to this work. Work will take place Monday to Saturday, 9 pm to 5 am and is expected to last two weeks. A paid duty officer and flagging crew will help direct traffic. For more information, email [email protected] or call 416-202-5100.

Union Station Rail Corridor-East

2022 USRCE Construction Season Brochure is Ready

• With Spring construction ramping up within the Union Station East Rail Corridor, Metrolinx Community Engagement Team is sharing this year's USRCE Construction Season Brochure. Click here to learn more about current and upcoming projects in this area. Should you have any questions, please check us out on our website at metrolinx.com/unionstation, on Twitter @goexpansion, or by email at [email protected]

Recent Platform Changes Impacting Some GO Train Passengers

• The Union Station Enhancement Project is in full swing to construct a new south concourse, two new platforms and two new tracks. We ask that you check your departure boards for each departing trip as platforms may change without notice. For more information about this project, click here
  

Daytime Noise Activity - Crushing Ballast

• As part of the Union Station Enhancement Project, a new machine positioned between Bay Street and Yonge Street is removing and crushing ballast rock. Adjacent residents may experience noise during daytime hours. Crushed ballast will be repurposed to build the roadway needed within the rail blockade to support construction activity.

Sightline Safety - Rail Corridor Maintenance and Signal Communications

• Rail corridor safety is always our number one priority - for our customers, employees and our neighbours along the rail corridors. Metrolinx conducts frequent, rigorous inspection, and when needed, replacement. At times, our inspection work may be disruptive and may occur occasionally without advance notice.

Signal Work Overnight

• Crews will continue working on bungalow and cable infrastructure from Cherry Street to Don River next week. Dump trucks, vacuum truck, Boom truck, mini excavator and lighting will be used to complete this work. Please note that weather conditions do impact our work timelines. We will share revised dates when applicable. For more information, click here to review the construction notice.
  

Ontario Line Enabling Works Continue

• Ontario Line enabling works continue as Metrolinx prepares for the future Ontario Line alignment. Crews will be at various locations between Cherry Street and Don River, involving all tracks and the Don Yard. These are key enabling construction activities for the future Ontario Line portal. Overnight work in this area will continue next week. Residents will be aware of excavators, boom trucks, dump trucks and other machinery in the area. For more information, click here to review our construction notice.

Activity at Wilson Yard and Laydown Area Between Lower Jarvis and Lower Sherbourne St

• Rail adjacent residents may see construction activity within the Wilson Yard, south of the Don Yard, as track removal will begin April 18, with clearing and grubbing is scheduled as early as April 25, in preparation for land fill that will arrive regularly from the Union Station Enhancement project (USEP) as the south concourse at Union Station is built.

Work crews continue to travel within the rail blockade, while storing equipment and materials along the south side of the corridor between Jarvis and Sherbourne Street. This work  is associated with USEP as well, and  will primarily occur during the day, but night and evening work may be required.

CIBCSQUARE Construction Work Update

• Work continues on Phase 2 at 141 Bay Street. The overbuild park is estimated to be completed in 2024, but this work will be phased over time. Overnight work remains necessary for the construction because we are building in an active rail corridor. When overnight construction is necessary, we are committed to completing the work as quickly as possible and keeping our neighbours informed.
  Current working hours at CIBC SQUARE: Regular working hours: 7 am – 7 pm, Monday – Friday. Overnight work in the rail corridor: 10 pm – 5 am, Monday to Saturday. Saturday working hours: 9 am – 7 pm. Please reach out to [email protected], should you have any questions.

Platform 25 Canopy Being Demolished

• Crews work to remove the canopy on platform 25 at Union Station as part of the Union Station Enhancement Project. The existing platform will be demolished and a new, expanded platform will be rebuilt - improving safety and adding capacity. In coming weeks the platforms will be dismantled as well. To refresh yourself on the exciting changes happening to increase capacity to the southern most platforms click here. 

Queens Quay West Optimizations

Starting March 2022, Waterfront Toronto will be undertaking work to revitalize Queens Quay West. Work is expected to be completed by June 2022. For more information, email [email protected]. 

• Intersection Optimizations: Two intersections along Queens Quay West - Queens Quay and Bay Street, and Queens Quay and Lower Simcoe Street will undergo improvements to more clearly delineate areas for cyclists and pedestrians. Improvements include extending asphalt sections of the Martin Goodman Trail through the intersections, extending pedestrian crosswalk markings to the south edge of the Martin Goodman Trail (Lower Simcoe Street only) and relocating pedestrian crossing signal buttons south of the Martin Goodman Trail.
• Planting Pilot: Between Lower Simcoe Street and York Street, vegetation will be planted around TTC streetcar platforms to create a buffer zone between the streetcar right-of-way and pedestrian traffic.
• Sidewalk Maintenance (Granite Pavers): Geotechnical investigations will be undertaken to review and resolve paver settlement along the north side of the public promenade between York Street and Lower Simcoe Street.
• Intersection Optimization: On March 7, construction manager will begin initial mobilization including moving equipment on site and installing construction fencing. On March 14, construction will begin starting at Queens Quay West and Lower Simcoe Street. Once intersection optimizations are complete at Lower Simcoe Street, crews will then begin work at Queens Quay West and Bay Street.

While this work is being completed, construction fencing will be installed around the work areas and portions of the Martin Good Trail between Bay Street and Lower Simcoe Street will be closed. Moderate noise from construction equipment can be expected as well as a minimal increase in construction vehicle traffic.

People cycling through the area have three options: follow the posted signage to join mixed traffic on Queens Quay West, traveling single file; dismount and walk along the Queens Quay public promenade; or, detour around the impacted areas by cycling north to Harbour Street, via Rees Street or Bay Street, and then rejoining the Martin Goodman Trail. Cycling detour signs will be posted on site and road users should expect reduced speeds on Queens Quay in both directions between Bay Street and Lower Simcoe Street.

Vegetation and Tree Removal Notice for Future Utility Relocation and Bridge Construction

During the month of March, Metrolinx crews will be removing some trees and vegetation to prepare for future relocation of utilities planned for later this year. Work will take place 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. Certified arborists will assess trees and vegetation within 6-12 m of the project footprint, which includes species identification, measuring the trunk diameter-at-breast-height, and assessing the health of the individual trees within the construction footprint and identified:

• 203 trees to be removed
• 155 trees are in shrub form (below 10 cm DBH) and form part of staghorn sumac, buckthorn and willow thickets

For more information, email [email protected] or call 416-202-5100.

Eastern Gardiner Expressway Permanently Closed at Logan

The City of Toronto has permanently closed the Logan Avenue ramp as part of the initial phases of its expansive Gardiner Expressway Rehabilitation Plan. The ramp will then be torn down, and other work completed, during a series of weekend closures on Lake Shore Boulevard East that are expected to last through November. More information available on the City’s website here.

The following closures and changes will be put into place on weekends through September and October:

• Lake Shore Boulevard East closed from Cherry Street to Carlaw Avenue.
• Westbound Gardiner can be accessed from Jarvis Street.
• Don Roadway closed between DVP and Commissioners Street – No access permitted to DVP. Access will be via Eastern Avenue and Queen Street.