Chris Glover MPP, Spadina–Fort York

Weekend Archaeological Work at the First Parliament Site

• Metrolinx will be completing stage 2 and 4 archaeological assessments to prepare the site for future construction of the Ontario Line. This work is scheduled to begin October 23 and will take place on Saturdays, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, for up to 2 months. Please note that this weekend work is in addition to the weekday work on the First Parliament Site detailed in this notice. Only archaeological work will be completed on Saturdays. Residents and businesses near the work site can expect to hear some occasional noise due to the use of an excavator. For more information, visit Metrolinx.com/OntarioLine.

Ongoing Construction between Bathurst St and Blue Jays Way

• From October 22 to 27, crews will use a tamper to tamp (flatten the ballast in the rail corridor) and level out some areas throughout the Union Station Rail Corridor. This work will take place between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. Crews will also be doing track surfacing concurrently with this work. 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The work will involve some noise and vibration. Email concerns to [email protected].

Ongoing Construction between Bathurst and John Streets

• From October 26 to 28, crews will use a tamper to tamp (flatten the ballast in the rail corridor) and level out some areas throughout the Union Station Rail Corridor. This work will take place between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. The work will involve some noise and vibration. Email concerns to [email protected].

Road Safety Upgrades on The Esplanade and Mill Street

Starting the week of October 17 until the end of November, the City of Toronto is installing road safety upgrades on The Esplanade and Mill Street from Lower Sherbourne to Bayview, which include:

• Installing protected bike lanes (cycle tracks) on The Esplanade and Mill Street to connect Bayview Ave and the Lower Don Trail to Lower Sherbourne St (with a connection to Yonge St)
• Converting Mill Street from Cherry Street to Parliament Street to one-way westbound
• Converting The Esplanade from Berkeley Street to Princess Street to one-way westbound and creating a TTC-only block on The Esplanade from Berkeley Street to Lower Sherbourne Street in an effort to reduce local traffic infiltration and increase the reliability of transit
• Restricting turning movements to increase safety for people walking and cycling and to reduce local traffic infiltration
• Removing on-street paid parking and permit parking spaces on The Esplanade, Mill Street, Princess Street, and Bayview Avenue to accommodate new street configuration

For information and updates, visit Toronto.ca/EsplanadeMill.

Overnight Investigative Hydrovac Work on York St between Queen St W and Adelaide St W

• To advance design concepts and other structural plans for the Ontario Line, Metrolinx will be using a vacuum truck to gather information and evaluate underground conditions. Work will start October 18, 9 pm to 6 am and last two nights. Residents and businesses can expect to hear noise caused by trucks and other equipment related to this work. Some temporary lane reductions will be required. A paid duty police officer will be on site to assist with traffic control. For more information, visit Metrolinx.com/OntarioLine.

Archaeology, Geotechnical and Demolition Work at the First Parliament Site

• Metrolinx will be completing stage 2 and 4 archaeological assessment, environmental assessment, geotechnical drilling, and hydrogeological investigation to prepare the site for future construction of the Ontario Line. Work will take place Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm, and last for up to 2 months. The work area will be inaccessible and protected by construction fencing to ensure the safety of the public. Residents and businesses near the work site can expect to hear noise caused by a drill rig, trucks and other construction equipment. For more information, visit Metrolinx.com/OntarioLine.

Overnight investigative drilling work on Bathurst Street near King Street West

• Starting as early as September 14, Metrolinx will be using small drill rigs and trucks to gather information and evaluate underground conditions. Work will take place Monday to Friday, 9 pm to 5 am, and last for up to 7 weeks. During construction hours, some lane closures will be required in the area with traffic delays expected. A paid duty officer will help direct traffic. 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, visit Metrolinx.com/OntarioLine.

Preview Inspections between Exhibition and Osgoode Stations

• Starting as early as September 24, Metrolinx will be conducting Preview Inspections at privately owned lands between Exhibition and Osgoode Stations to further construction of the Ontario Line. Inspections will take place Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm until December 31, 2021. Inspection activities will include geotechnical, environmental, tree inventory, topographical and utility survey work. Notices have been issued directly to applicable property owners between Exhibition Station and Osgoode Station where Metrolinx requires access to private lands. For more information, visit Metrolinx.com/OntarioLine.

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.

Environmental Site Assessment at 1 Atlantic Avenue

• Metrolinx will be using small drill rigs and trucks to gather information and evaluate underground conditions. Work is scheduled to begin September 1st, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and last 5 weeks. For more information, visit Metrolinx.com/OntarioLine.

Dockside Drive Public Realm and Queens Quay East

• Waterfront Toronto will be replacing the existing sidewalk around the Waterfront Innovation Centre, including the west side of Dockside Drive, south from Queens Quay, and the north side of Dockside Drive over to Knapp Lane. Pedestrian walkways will also be connecting the public realm to the buildings on Queens Quay East from Dockside Drive to Knapp Lane. Construction will take place between the hours of 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday. Work is anticipated to be complete by January 2022. Email questions to [email protected].

Site Investigations Along Waterfront

• In preparation for the Inner Harbour West Tunnel of the Don River and Central Waterfront Wet Weather Flow System, the City of Toronto will be carrying out site investigations to determine soil, rock and groundwater conditions, and confirm below ground utilities at multiple locations across the downtown waterfront. Work is expected to take place June to December 2021 between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday, with work after hours and on Saturdays as required. For more information, email [email protected], call 416-338-7052, or visit toronto.ca/drcw-project.

Queen Street West Construction: Bay Street to Fennings Street

The City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) have coordinated a number of infrastructure upgrades on Queen Street West, which include:

• replacement of streetcar track from Bay Street to Fennings Street
• replacement of streetcar track at the intersection of Queen Street West and Shaw Street
• replacement of watermain and City-owned portion of substandard water services from Bay Street to University Avenue
• improvements to the streetscape along Queen Street West, in partnership with the Queen Street West Business Improvement Area (BIA)

Work will start at Bay Street and move west towards Spadina Avenue (planned for June to August), and then from Fennings Street east towards Spadina Avenue (planned for August to December). Vehicles will not be allowed in the work zones for up to four weeks to allow the work to be completed faster. More information here.

Yonge Street Abutment Work

• The overnight Yonge Street abutment work between Lakeshore Avenue and The Esplanade continues into July. This work is part of the 81 Bay Street Overbuild associated with CIBC SQUARE construction project.

Track Rail Panel Replacement: Cherry Street to Parliament Street

• Maintenance crews will be replacing track rail panels along the north side of the corridor between Cherry and Parliament Streets that will continue into August. Work will be conducted overnight, between 9:00 pm and 5:30 am. Track replacement is necessary to ensure safety for our commuter and resident customers. Heavy machinery, back-up beepers, and other loud tools should be expected. New creosote-presoaked ties will replace the old ties at Parliament Street. An odour may be detected by some who reside closer to the tracks for work scheduled July 16-18 and will linger for a period, but should dissipate quickly, even more so with the presence of rain. If you have any questions, call 416-202-3900 or email [email protected].

Vegetation and Tree Clearing Union Station East Rail Corridor

• Crews will clear/remove and prune designated trees and vegetation located within the East Rail Corridor, from Union Station to Queen Street at Bayview Avenue, and areas along the south side near the Don Yard. Ongoing vegetation control inside rail corridors is essential to operating safe and reliable GO train service while protecting the space for new infrastructure. Native trees removed as part of this work will be replaced within the City of Toronto through a compensation program and will increase the tree count in the region. This work will begin late July into August 2021 and last for approximately four to six weeks. Majority of work will take place between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm on weekdays, and possibly on weekends. If you have any questions, call 416-202-3900 or email [email protected].