Toronto Lower Simcoe Ramp | ?m | ?s | City of Toronto

News release


February 8, 2017


Eastbound ramp from Gardiner Expressway to York/Bay/Yonge Streets to be demolished, replaced with new ramp


The City of Toronto is replacing the ramp from the eastbound Gardiner Expressway to York, Bay and Yonge Streets with a shorter ramp to Lower Simcoe Street and widening Harbour Street from Lower Simcoe Street to Bay Street to improve pedestrian and cycling access to the waterfront. Mayor John Tory made this announcement this morning at the park space by the York Street exit ramp which will be redesigned through this construction.


"Like the rest of the Gardiner, the ramp was built over 50 years ago, is in poor condition and nearing the end of its service life. We need to redesign it to address today’s traffic demands,” said Mayor John Tory. “The demolition of the old ramp will also give both residents and visitors better access to one of our greatest physical spaces, Lake Ontario, as well as more park space in the community.”



The ramp will close to traffic on April 17 and construction will continue until January 2018. During the construction work, motorists will still have full access to downtown by exiting the eastbound Gardiner Expressway at the Jameson Avenue, Spadina Avenue and Jarvis Street ramps. In addition, motorists will be able to access eastbound Lake Shore Boulevard from the eastbound Gardiner Expressway ramp at Spadina Avenue.


To maintain traffic flow in the area, traffic signal timing on alternative routes will be adjusted to minimize congestion and enhanced signage will be installed to advise motorists of the ongoing work.


Work on the project will take place Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be some times when overnight work will be required. Speeding up public sector construction projects to reduce the duration of construction and get projects completed faster is part of the Mayor’s congestion management plan.


This work is taking place following an environmental assessment in 2013 that recommended the reconfiguration of the ramps in the area.


More information about the ramp closure and construction plans are available in a backgrounder available on the City's website at http://www.toronto.ca/newsroom.
 
Welcome to chaos on the Gardiner heading downtown - at least some of the early work done will keep this shutdown to 8 months (hopefully)
 
The Mayor's office must be reading this forum, since the genius idea of allowing eastbound traffic to get on the Lakeshore via the Spadina ramp was put forward earlier by a contributor. That alone will be an enormous relief valve.

Quick, someone write something about getting streetcar service on Queens Quay for the East Bayfront. Like was promised by Miller in 2009.
 
I've said it before. They should allow drivers on the Spadina off ramp to be able to continue East bound along Lakeshore Blvd. Would relieve some of the pressure on the York-Bay-Yonge Ramp

Edit

Whoops looks like someone mentioned this above me
 
When I saw the new supports on Jan 16, not much left to be built, as most were in place with one to be pour. That one to be pour would be late Jan or early Feb based on weather.

All that is needed to build the ramp was the support beam and the removable of the existing ramp at the top level and part of the curb.

The new ramp could be open by year end.

As for Spadina connection to the Lake Shore, I stand to be corrected, but wasn't there an option to do so a decade or so ago and was close to traffic issues?? I remember doing it, but could be wrong.
Jan 16
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DSC said:
News release...
The City of Toronto is replacing the ramp from the eastbound Gardiner Expressway to York, Bay and Yonge Streets with a shorter ramp to Lower Simcoe Street and widening Harbour Street from Lower Simcoe Street to Bay Street to improve pedestrian and cycling access to the waterfront. Mayor John Tory made this announcement this morning at the park space by the York Street exit ramp which will be redesigned through this construction...
Click to expand...

How is "widening Harbour Street" supposed to "improve pedestrian and cycling access"? Do they mean widening the sidewalks and adding bicycle lanes?
 
Totally on board with the widened sidewalks, not sure that the cycle track on Harbour was necessary, that's what QQ is for. Painted lanes might have been sufficient, but hey, if they have room and they're gonna do it I won't argue.

If there's an area that needs cyclist improvements (i.e. cycle track), it's in the north-south direction along York.
 
Sorry for asking this as it may likely have been discussed before.....but is the plan here to take all the cars that use this ramp now to access Bay/Yonge/York and push them into the city via Simcoe?
 

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