Construction/Road Closures

Road Closures this Weekend

For a listing of road closures, see the City of Toronto's website here.

Santa Claus Parade Road Closures

The 119th annual Santa Claus Parade is taking place on Sunday, November 26, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. Motorists travelling in the area can expect significant delays and should attempt to avoid the parade route. The duration of the parade is approximately 2.5 hours and will take place regardless of weather conditions. Roads are expected to be reopened by 6 p.m.

Estimated road closure times for the parade are as follows:

Bloor Street West, from Ossington Avenue to Christie Street, at 7 a.m.
Bloor Street West, from Christie Street to Spadina Road, at 10 a.m.
Spadina Avenue, from Bloor Street West to Harbord Street, at 10:30 a.m.
Harbord Street, from Spadina Avenue to Queen's Park Crescent, at 10:30 a.m.
Queen's Park Crescent, from Harbord Street to College Street, at 11 a.m.
University Avenue, from College Street to Dundas Street, at 11 a.m.
University Avenue, from Dundas Street to Front Street, at 11:15 a.m.
Wellington Street, from University Avenue to Jarvis Street, at 11:30 a.m.
Front Street, from Bay Street to Jarvis Street, at 11:45 a.m.
Front Street, from Jarvis Street to Sherbourne Street, at 11 a.m.

The towing of vehicles parked along the parade route will commence at 6 a.m. on Sunday, November 26, 2023. Vehicles will be relocated to a nearby street at no charge to the drivers/owners. Drivers may flag down an officer to find out the location of their vehicle or call 416-808-1400 if they were parked west of Spadina Avenue, 416-808-5100 if they were parked east of Yonge Street, and 416-808-5200 if they were parked in between.

At 11:45 a.m., the Holly Jolly 5 km Fun Run will take place on the parade route.

For the safety of runners and parade attendees, spectators are asked to ensure that children and all personal belongings are off the roadway by 11:30 a.m.

The parade itself will start at 12:30 p.m., and will proceed along the following route:

Start: Bloor Street West and Christie Street
Eastbound: Bloor Street West
Southbound: Spadina Avenue (northbound lanes)
Eastbound: Harbord Street and Hoskin Street
Northbound: Queen’s Park Crescent West
Southbound: Queen’s Park Crescent East
Southbound: University Avenue (northbound lanes)
Eastbound: Wellington Street West
Southbound: Yonge Street
Eastbound: Front Street East
Finish: Front Street East and Jarvis Street

Spectators attending the parade are advised to use public transportation. Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will be providing full subway and streetcar service. Please refer to the TTC website for information regarding service adjustments for bus routes impacted by the parade.

Weekend Road Closures Queen St W and Spadina Ave

Starting as early as December 2, 2023, lane reductions, street and sidewalk closures will be fully closed during the day on several upcoming weekends, to ensure safety and provide access to the adjacent worksites. Streets impacted are Queen St W, Spadina Ave, Soho St, Bulwer St. Expected working hours will be on weekends, 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. During closures, streets will be fully or partially closed to all traffic, including pedestrians. Nearby residents can expect to hear noise from the work and equipment such as construction trucks and a mobile crane. For more information, call 24/7 at 416-205-5100, or email at [email protected].

Spadina Ave daytime northbound lane closures between:
• December 2 to December 3
• December 9 to December 10
• December 16 to December 17
• January 6 to January 7
• January 13 to January 14

Bulwer St daytime full street closures between:
• December 2 to December 3
• December 9 to December 10
• December 16 to December 17
• January 6 to January 7
• January 13 to January 14

Lane Reductions on Yonge Street

On Tuesday, October 31, Metrolinx’s contractor began work to install new telecom utilities and a sewer bypass system across Yonge Street at the intersection of Queen Street. Utility work continues to facilitate construction of the future Ontario Line connection at Queen Station. A full road closure remains in place from Bay Street to Victoria Street and will last until late fall 2027. Yonge Street, Bay Street and Victoria Street remain open. This work will take place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2023.

Exhibition Station near Pirandello St

Beginning as early as November 7, 2023, crews will be relocating underground utility wires between Hanna Ave and Pirandello St, north of the rail corridor. Work will take place weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Crews will begin to arrive on site as early as 6 a.m. There is no planned overnight or weekend work. Entrances to condo buildings, parking garages, and other services will remain open. The south end of Pirandello St and King West Laneway will be closed along with a small section of sidewalk on the west side of Pirandello Street. This work will last up to May 1, 2024. For more information, call 24/7 at 416-205-5100, or email at [email protected].

TTC Track Work at Dufferin Street and Springhurst Ave/Fort Rouille St

Phase 2: Mid-October to late December. Replace the TTC streetcar track within 150 metres of the intersection to the end of Fort Rouille Street. Remove and replace concrete and rails. Restore the road from Dufferin Street to Fort Rouille Street. Dufferin Street at Springhurst Avenue and Tyndall Avenue will be fully closed to vehicles. Springhurst Avenue will be fully closed to vehicles at Fort Rouille Street with no access to Dufferin Street. Vehicle access will be maintained along Tyndall Avenue and King Street East to move East and West.
The 504B King streetcar will continue to bypass stops on Dufferin Street south of King Street West and instead continue further west at Roncesvalles Avenue (Dundas West Station) via King Street West. The 29 Dufferin bus and 329 Dufferin Night bus will terminate at Princess Gate via Liberty Street and East Liberty Street. The 929 Dufferin Express buses will also bypass the Dufferin Gate Loop and instead terminate at Exhibition Loop via Liberty Street and East Liberty Street. For more information, check the ttc.ca website for more information.

Queen Street West Closures

Work continues along Queen Street to facilitate construction of the future Ontario line connection at Queen Station. A full road closure remains in place from Bay Street to Victoria Street until late Fall of 2027. Yonge Street, Bay Street, and Victoria Street remain open. Crew working to relocate an existing hydro vault and complete basement modifications within the Hudson’s Bay building. A portion of Queen Street in front of The Bay will be closed. Pedestrian access will be maintained. Relocation work is expected to be completed by early 2024. For more information, call 24/7 at 416-205-5100, or email at [email protected].
Work is scheduled to begin October 30, 2023, and anticipated to be completed by November 30th, 2023. Work takes place during the weeknights, overnight Monday – Friday. Crews are conducting investigative utility works and drilling near the intersection of Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue. Details here. For more information, contact 416-202-5100, or [email protected].

King-Liberty Go Station

Construction will begin November 2023, and is expected to last up to 6 months for the new SmartTrack King-Liberty Go Station. Day work is expected Monday – Friday 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Overnight work is expected Monday – Saturday 7:00 PM and 5:00 AM. Crews will begin mobilizing and setting up the work site for future construction activities. Work is to take place between Lansdowne Avenue and Sudbury Street, in and around the Kitchener Go Rail Corridor. No significant impacts anticipated for this time for traffic and transit details. For pedestrians, temporary sidewalk closures are expected along Sudbury Street. For more information, contact 416-202-5100, or [email protected].

York St Streetcar Construction

Construction of a new streetcar will begin on the south side of Richmond Street at the York Street and Richmond intersection, instead of the north side. One westbound traffic lane will remain open on Richmond Street at the intersection of York Street and Richmond Street. Local traffic will be permitted to make a left-hand turn onto York Street from Richmond Street to access parking and laneways. A paid duty officer will be on-site 24/7 to safely direct traffic. A U-turn along York Street south of Richmond will be allowed through the facilitation of a paid duty officer. For more information, contact 416-202-5100, or [email protected].

Installation Work at Berkeley St and King St E

Upcoming monitoring device installation work is scheduled to start on Berkeley Street and King Street East as early as October 19, 2023, for approximately 5 weeks. Will take place on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., while on King Street, it will occur on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 24/7 at 416-205-5100, or email at [email protected].

Adelaide St W and York St Intersection Closure

Beginning Monday, October 16 until mid-December, the intersection of Adelaide and York Streets will be fully closed to traffic so that crews can safely install TTC tracks in the intersection. This intersection was to be fully closed for six weeks starting Wednesday, November 1, however the closure date has been advanced to provide crews with more space in the work zone to help manage complexities related to relocating underground utilities. Once the full closure is completed, the intersection will re-open and Adelaide Street West will remain reduced to one shared lane. During both full intersection closures, the streets around the intersection will be open to local traffic only. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times throughout construction. Work is expected to be completed by spring 2024. Local businesses in the area will remain open as usual and pedestrian access to businesses around the work zone will be maintained.

Lane Reconstruction on McDougall Lane from Richmond to Queen

Starting in the fall of 2023, the City of Toronto is planning to reconstruct the laneway on McDougall Lane to bring it to a state of good repair. Work crews will mark sidewalks and curbs requiring replacement and locations of underground utilities. Affected properties will receive a notice approximately two weeks before work begins. Work is expected to end in winter 2023. For more information, call Angela Au at 416-392-7756 or email [email protected].

Rebuilding Electrical Distribution on Bathurst St from College to Adelaide

Starting October 2023, Toronto Hydro will be upgrading overhead electrical cables on city-owned property along Bathurst Street. Affected streets include parts of College, Dundas St W, Queen St W, Richmond St W and Wolseley St. Work will take place Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is expected to last until July 2024. Some weekend work will occur. There may be road and sidewalk restrictions within the construction area. For more information, call 416-542-3366 or email [email protected].

Overnight Utility Surveying Near Queen St E and Yonge

As early as September 18, 2023, crews will be performing underground utility surveying near Queen Street East and Yonge Street. Work will take place on weekdays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and is expected to end November 30, 2023. The work will be completed in four, intermittent phases. Northbound and southbound lanes along Yonge St will be closed intermittently and vehicle traffic will be rerouted around work zones, using traffic barrels. Work will require intermittent closures of the north and south cross walk at Queen and Yonge, as well as the sidewalk on the west side of Yonge. For more information, call 416-202-5100 or email [email protected].

Overnight Sewer and Utility Surveying on Berkeley, Front, and King St E

Starting September 18, 2023, construction crews will be surveying utilities and conducting sewer inspections in these areas. The work will last approximately until the end of November 2023. Work will take place entirely overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning. Crews will move around within the locations shown on the map as each site will take one or two nights to complete the work. The work is done by accessing sewer manholes to assess internal conditions of sewers and cabling before station construction begins. There will be intermittent closures north and southbound on Berkeley Street and eastbound closures on Front Street while crews set up around sewers in that area. The westbound curb lane on Front Street, east of Berkeley Street, will be used as a pedestrian walkway temporarily to ensure pedestrian access is maintained. Residents will hear noise from work equipment. For more information, call 416-202-5100 or email [email protected].

Liberty Village Metrolinx Hydro Work (Pirandello and King West Laneway)

Underground utility relocation at the bottom of Pirandello Street and south of Pirandello, extending west toward Hanna Avenue is required to prepare for the construction of the new Exhibition Station. As part of the relocation of underground utilities, a trench for new conduits will be dug and filled with concrete to make the entire area south of Pirandello Street. Electrical and trench work is scheduled to begin as early as September 18. The work will last for approximately 13 weeks, take place weekdays between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. (Crews will begin to arrive on site as early as 6:00 am) There is no planned overnight or weekend work. For more information, call 416-202-5100 or email [email protected].

Overnight Sewer and Utility surveying Near Exhibition Station

Starting September 5, 2023, construction crews will be surveying utilities and conducting sewer inspections at various points around Exhibition station. The work will last approximately until the end of November 2023. Work will take place entirely overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning. There will be various temporary closures both northbound and southbound on Dufferin St, Mowat Ave, Fraser Ave, Pirandello St, and Strachan Ave. Manitoba Dr will have temporary closures in both directions while crews set up around sewers in that area. The southbound bike lane on Strachan Avenue will be merged with the traffic lane. Residents can expect to hear noise from work equipment, specifically saw cutters and hydrovac trucks as necessary. For more information, call 416-202-5100 or email [email protected].

501 Queen Streetcar Service Changes

For several months, 501 Queen streetcars have been diverting via McCaul Street, Dundas Street, and Broadview Avenue to regular routing. This diversion was put into place to provide continuous, frequent, and reliable 501 service during Ontario Line construction downtown until a permanent streetcar diversion is constructed on Adelaide Street and York Street. Effective September 3, 501 Queen routes will generally operate along the following sections until further notice unless a temporary diversion is required:
West-end: 501 Queen streetcars will operate between Roncesvalles Avenue and McCaul Loop. Once construction along The Queensway is completed, streetcars are anticipated to resume travel as far west as Long Branch Loop.
Downtown: 501B Queen replacement buses will continue to operate between Queen Street/Bathurst Street and Broadview Avenue/Gerrard Street.
East-end: Between September 3 and 22 a temporary diversion will take place, as the 501 Queen streetcar service will be replaced by 505 Dundas streetcars on Queen Street East from Broadview Avenue to Neville Park Loop

Ontario Line Notice of Lane Closure at King/Bathurst

Starting August 30, 2023, crews will be installing traffic barriers and signage to prepare the area for the next phase of work at the future Ontario Line King/Bathurst station. This work is expected to take one night as early as August 30th with hours from 9pm-5am. Curb lane traffic closures on the north side are expected to be in place for six months. Traffic control measures on the south side of King St. are expected to change in October 2023. Stewart St. parking lanes will be used as a safe passageway around the site. Metal barriers will be in place to separate traffic lanes from pedestrians.

Bathurst Street: The northbound curb lane on Bathurst St. from Stewart St. to just north of King St., will be closed to traffic. A passageway will be installed within the curb lane, to allow safe movement around the construction area. Metal barriers will be installed to keep people away from the traffic lanes on Bathurst St. The pedestrian detour along with traffic control measures are expected to be in place for the next six months. Additional changes on Bathurst St. south of King St. are expected in October 2023.

King Street - North side: A section of the westbound curb lane will be closed approaching Bathurst St. A passageway will be installed within the curb lane, to allow safe movement around the construction area. The westbound TTC streetcar stop has been moved east to avoid the curb lane closure.

King Street - South side: A section of the eastbound curb lane will be closed just east of Bathurst St. A safe passageway will be installed within the curb lane, to allow safe movement around the construction area. Metal barriers will be installed to create safe passage away from the traffic lanes. The eastbound streetcar stop has been shifted east. Eastbound and westbound right turn lanes on King St W. will be maintained. Expect some lane closures overnight when the barriers are being installed.

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

Notice of Demolition: 443, 449, 451, 453, 455 Queen St W and 378 Queen St W (165-177 Spadina Ave)

Demolition work is expected to begin as early as August 25, 2023 and is expected to take 5 months. Work will take place weekdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., and weekends between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. when necessary. Occasional weekend closures of Bulwer St will be required to allow proper handling of heritage facades. The demolition will involve breaking up the buildings using a special excavator and another excavator placing the debris into dump trucks for removal from the site. Noise and vibration associated with demolition work should be expected. Pedestrian scaffolding will be in place over the sidewalk at the southwest corner. For more information, call 416-202-5100 or email [email protected].

Notice of Demolition: 662, 668, 663-665, 647 King St West and 60 Stewart St

Demolition work is expected to begin as early as August 8, 2023 and is expected to take 5 months. Work will take place during the day between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Demolition activities will take place according to the specific building and heritage requirements. Curb lanes at the northeast and southeast corners of the intersection will be closed during demolition to allow for temporary pedestrian walkways, extending down to Stewart St. The demolition will involve breaking up the buildings using a special excavator and a second excavator to place the debris into dump trucks for removal from the site. Noise and vibration associated with demolition work should be expected. For more information, call 416-202-5100 or email [email protected].

TTC Track Replacement and Watermain Replacement at Dufferin and Springhurst/Fort Rouille

Starting early September the City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) plan to replace aging streetcar tracks on Springhurst Avenue from Dufferin Street to Fort Rouille Street, including the Dufferin Street loop. The City will also replace the watermain and City-owned portion of substandard water services on Fort Rouille Street and on Springhurst Avenue from west of Dufferin Street to Fort Rouille Street. This project will be coordinated with the emergency repairs of the Dufferin Street Bridge. This work is required to bring the aging infrastructure to a state of good repair and is part of the Council-approved 2023 Capital Works Program. Work is expected to run until December 2023.

Installation of Road Safety Improvements and Bikeways on Douro from King to Strachan

The City of Toronto is preparing to install two-way cycle tracks on Douro Street from King Street to Strachan Street as part of the Douro-Wellington Road Safety Improvements and Bikeway, approved by City Council in March 2022. This work follows the completion of the water main replacement between Strachan Street to Draper Street and Clarence Square to Blue Jays Way. Along the corridor, residents can expect new pavement markings, and several changes to parking signage, traffic direction/prohibition signage, and traffic signal operation. Key changes will include:
- Protected two-way cycle tracks on the south side of Douro Street and Wellington Street from King Street to Portland Street, and on the north side from Portland Street to Spadina Avenue and Clarence Square. The bikeway will continue on the south side of Wellington Street from Clarence Square to Blue Jays Way.
- As water main and repaving work on Wellington Street nears completion, the roadwork on Douro Street will begin. The cycle track will be switched from the north side of Douro Street to the south side to create a continuous, protected bi-directional cycle track from King Street to Blue Jays Way to complete the Douro-Wellington Bikeway.
- Parking will also be prohibited periodically between now and September 3. Dates subject to change. Vehicles remaining on the street on posted days will be relocated to a nearby location.

Waterfront Toronto Construction Notice

As part of the Quayside project, Waterfront Toronto is preparing for the first step of construction that will extend Queens Quay east to the planned Silo Street, including a new intersection with a realigned Parliament Street. The extension of Queens Quay East will support the future road network and planned light rail transit in the area. To facilitate this work, the head of Parliament Slip will be filled in and a new dockwall will be constructed.
On August 1, 2023, the construction team will begin using the parking lot at 333 Lake Shore Boulevard East (on the east side of Parliament Slip) for staging and general site mobilization. Construction of the new dockwall and lakefill will begin in Fall 2023.

Dufferin Gate Southbound Lane Road Closure

Starting July 13, the southbound portion of Dufferin is closed for emergency bridge work due to damage discovered on a portion of the bridge south of Springhurst Avenue. To ensure public safety and to facilitate the necessary repair work, the southbound lane will be closed with southbound traffic diverted onto Springhurst Avenue. The northbound lane and pedestrian sidewalk will remain open. Repairs are expected to take up to two months.
The city has also launched a dedicated website: toronto.ca/dufferinbridges

In an effort to keep the community informed and address any concerns, the City is organizing a virtual information meeting. The event will be attended by Councillor Gord Perks and a representative from the office of Councillor Ausma Malik.

For more details about the emergency work and to register for the information meeting, please visit: toronto.ca/dufferinbridges

Early Works at King-Liberty GO including Overnight Work

Starting July 2023, crews will be working to mark, trim and remove trees as part of the new SmartTrack King-Liberty GO Station. Work is taking place between Lansdowne Ave and Sudbury St on Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Overnight work is expected to take place Monday to Saturday, 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Work expected to last 6 months. For concerns, email [email protected] or call 416-202-6911.

Toronto Hydro Upgrade in Liberty Village

Toronto Hydro is upgrading the electrical distribution system which includes upgrading underground electrical cables on city-owned property. The project area includes sections of Queen Street West, King Street West, Dovercourt Road, Sudbury Street, Lisgar Street, Atlantic Avenue, and Jefferson Avenue. Work will take place Monday to Friday, between 7 am and 7 pm and is expected to be completed in December 2023. If you have any questions, email [email protected] or by phone 416-542-3366.
Starting in June, Toronto Hydro will also be working in sections of East Liberty Street and Western Battery Road from Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. If you have any questions, email [email protected] or by phone 416-542-3366.

Queen Street Closed to Vehicle Traffic from Bay to Victoria

Starting May 1, 2023, vehicle traffic will be diverted off Queen Street from Bay Street to Victoria Street for an estimated four and a half years in preparation for construction related to the Ontario Line’s future Queen Station. Metrolinx says that closing this section of street to vehicle traffic will expedite construction for the project by roughly one year. Queen Street will be open to pedestrians. The TTC has implemented detours that will ensure access to the small businesses and restaurants. Full details here.

Metrolinx Union Station Rail Corridor-East

Track work underway at Union Station
A look at one of the platforms at Union Station to give a sense of where the work will be happening.

Metrolinx is completing investigative work across the GO network to support the design of the On-Corridor Works (OnCorr) project – the largest project within the historic GO Expansion program. Over the past few months at Union Station, customers might have seen crews conducting some of this work in the York, Bay and VIA concourses. And now, this work is moving up to track level.

Sidewalk Closures Along Lower Jarvis Street - Delayed
Beginning as early as November 30th and continuing into the new year, there will be increased construction activity at street level, south of the Lower Jarvis Street rail corridor bridge. A crane pad will be installed just south of the tracks and will support the upcoming bridge extension construction work. This work will involve excavator and vacuum truck deployment and see the use of construction machinery and tools.

To facilitate this needed work, the west and east sidewalks along Lower Jarvis Street from Lakeshore Boulevard to just north of the rail bridge will experience alternating closures, with one sidewalk fully open at all times. The west side will be closed first for a period of approximately 4 weeks followed by the east side. Directional signage will be used to assistance pedestrians through this area. To review the construction notice click here.

One Night Full Closure - Lower Sherbourne Street: Extended
In efforts to facilitate some time-critical work when least disruptive to neighbouring communities, there will be a temporary closure of the southbound lanes on Lower Sherbourne Street, between Lakeshore Blvd to south of The Esplanade. Most of this work was accomplished this past week with residual elements required over the next couple of weeks. A second closure to the southbound lanes is required. This closure, in addition to currently ongoing northbound impacts would result in an additional full closure to vehicular traffic between midnight and 5 a.m., as early as next week. Noise impacts to the community will be kept to a minimum. Metrolinx appreciates the ongoing patience and understanding of our resident customers as we continue with this necessary work.

Daylighting and Borehole Drilling
Work crews will continue daylighting and borehole drilling in various locations of the Union Station East Rail Corridor, as part of the geotechnical investigative work. We will be deploying a hydrovac truck to identify underground utility infrastructure where an excavator cannot be utilized, followed by borehole drilling. This is needed to assess ground conditions and will support future track and infrastructure enhancements.

Generally, hydrovac truck and daylighting works will proceed for 1-2 nights at each location, followed by another 1-2 nights of borehole drilling. Please note that the dates and locations listed below are approximate and subject to change. Residents may experience some noise and minor vibration from the drill and other construction vehicles or equipment. Construction lighting will also be used. Noise and vibration monitoring will take place and mitigation measures will be applied as required.

Union Station Enhancement Project (USEP):
The Union Station Enhancement Project includes the design and construction of transit infrastructure and upgrades at the southernmost part of Union Station, including the addition of new tracks, new platforms, and a new south concourse to accommodate GO rail service increases, improve customer experience and enable the planned GO Expansion program. For more information about construction at Union Station please click here. Thank you for your patience as we work to transform your station.

Chris Glover MPP, Spadina–Fort York